The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in September 2017 was lower compared to September 2016. Total carloads were down 2.5 percent, from 346,473 in September 2016, to 337,782 in September 2017.
Nonmetallic minerals led gains, up 23.2 percent over the previous year, and crushed stone, sand and gravel carloads were up 21 percent. Coal increased only 0.4 percent after months of double-digit increases. Pulp, paper and allied products led declines, down 3.4 percent. (Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity file as an Excel table.)
Total carloads for 2017 were at 3.19 million through September 30, up about 149,000 carloads, or 4.9 percent from 2016.
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.