The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in August 2019 was down compared to August 2018. Carloads originated decreased 4.0 percent, from 384,862 in August 2018 to 369,611 in August 2019.

Nonmetallic Minerals led gains for the fifth consecutive month with a 33.3 percent increase. Grain Mill Products was up 13.8 percent, and Motor Vehicles and Equipment and Trailer or Container increased 13.8 and 4.2 percent respectively. Coal led declines, down 20.0 percent. Metallic Ores, Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel, Waste and Scrap Materials, Pulp, Paper and Allied Products, Grain, Lumber and Wood Products, Metals and Products, Stone, Clay and Glass Products, Food and Kindred Products and Other Carloads were also down in August. 

Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.

Carloads originated for 2019 were at 2,860,358 through August 31, down about 2,000 carloads, or 0.1 percent from 2018. 

Railinc publishes this information as a service to the rail industry. The Railinc Short Line and Regional Traffic Index can also be found monthly in Railway Age magazine.. For questions or comments, please contact the Railinc Corporate Communications department.  

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August 2019 Short Line Index