The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in August 2018 was up compared to August 2017. Carloads originated increased 5.1 percent, from 372,244 in August 2017 to 391,330 in August 2018.
Nonmetallic minerals led gains with a 31.3 percent increase. Metals and products were up 24.6 percent, and chemicals and pulp, paper and allied products increased 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Coal led declines for the fourth straight month, down 16.5 percent. Motor vehicles and equipment and food and kindred products were also down in August.
Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.
Carloads originated for 2018 were at about 2.9 million through August 31, up about 50,000 carloads, or 1.7 percent from 2017.
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.
