The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in July 2017 was higher compared to July 2016. Total carloads were up 4.8 percent, from 337,344 in July 2016, to 353,632 in July 2017.
Coal led gains again, up 25.9 percent over July 2016. Crushed stone, sand and gravel carloads were up by 24.4 percent, and metals and products increased 13.8 percent. Nonmetallic minerals led declines, down 13.5 percent. (Click here to download the Carloads by Commodity file as an Excel table).
Total carloads for 2017 were at 2.48 million through July 31, up about 147,000, or 6.3 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.