The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in September 2018 was up compared to September 2017. Carloads originated increased 4.0 percent, from 337,450 in September 2017 to 351,034 in September 2018.
Trailer or container led gains with a 19.6 percent increase. Chemicals were up 15.3 percent, and metals and products and pulp, paper, and allied products increased about 14 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Coal again led declines, down 12.4 percent. The motor vehicles and equipment; waste and scrap materials; crushed stone, sand and gravel; nonmetallic minerals; food and kindred products; and all other carloads categories were also down in September.
Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity table as an Excel file.
Carloads originated for 2018 were at about 3.2 million through September 30, up about 62,000 carloads, or 1.9 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.
