The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in September 2020 was down compared to September 2019. Carloads originated decreased 4.2 percent, from 339,519 in September 2019 to 325,145 in September 2020.
Grain led gains again with a 10.8 percent increase. Petroleum Products was up 8.1 percent, and Food and Kindred Products and Grain Mill Products increased 5.5 and 5.1 percent respectively. Nonmetallic Minerals led declines for the third consecutive month, down 40.1 percent. Motor Vehicles and Equipment, Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel, Trailer or Container, Pulp, Paper and Allied Products, Coal and All Other Carloads were also down in September.
Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.
Carloads originated for 2020 were at 2,886,369 through September 30, down about 267,000 carloads, or 8.5 percent from 2019.
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.
