Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported November 2005 traffic volumes for its North American and 50%-owned Australian operations.
North American traffic in November 2005 was 63,616 carloads, an increase of 9,246 carloads, or 17.0%, compared with November 2004. North American traffic for the fourth quarter of 2005 through November was 130,034 carloads, an increase of 20,964 carloads, or 19.2%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004 through November.
Australian traffic in November 2005 was 77,964 carloads, a decrease of 3,407 carloads, or 4.2%, compared with November 2004. Australian traffic for the fourth quarter of 2005 through November was 156,282 carloads, a decrease of 6,499 carloads, or 4.0%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004 through November.
North American carloads in November 2005 increased by 9,246 carloads, or 17.0%. Excluding 1,858 carloads from the First Coast Railroad which GWI started operating April 9, 2005, and 8,108 carloads from the former Rail Management Corp. railroads which GWI started operating June 1, 2005, North American traffic in November 2005 decreased by 720 carloads, or 1.3%. This decrease was primarily due to a 751 carload decrease in farm & food products traffic, of which approximately half of this decline was due to service disruptions from Hurricane Stan in GWI's Mexico region. In total, GWI's Mexico region experienced a 1,158 carload decrease in November 2005 compared to November 2004. Excluding Mexico, all other carloads were up 438 cars.
North American carloads in the fourth quarter of 2005 through November increased by 20,964 carloads, or 19.2%. Excluding 2,656 carloads from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad which GWI started operating November 1, 2004, 3,915 carloads from the First Coast Railroad which GWI started operating April 9, 2005, and 16,447 carloads from the former Rail Management Corp. railroads which GWI started operating June 1, 2005, North American traffic in the fourth quarter of 2005 through November decreased by 2,054 carloads, or 1.9%. This same-railroad decrease was primarily due to a 1,798 carload decrease in farm & food traffic due to the expected discontinuation of rail service for sugar cane in Louisiana and service disruptions in GWI's Mexico region due to Hurricane Stan. Additionally, excluding farm and food traffic, GWI's Mexico region was down 1,488 carloads. These decreases were partially offset by a 1,796 increase in coal, coke & ores traffic. All other commodities and carloads declined by a net 564 carloads.
Australian carloads in November 2005 decreased by 3,407 carloads, or 4.2%, compared with November 2004. The decrease was primarily the result of a 4,421 carload decrease in grain traffic due to last year's record harvest and a 1,276 decline in iron ore traffic due to track work to repair a derailment which has been completed and service has been restored to normal levels. The decrease was partially offset by 1,014 carload increase in hook & pull traffic. All other commodities increased by a net 1,276 carloads.
Australian carloads in the fourth quarter of 2005 through November decreased by 6,499 carloads, or 4.0%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004 through November. The decrease was primarily the result of a 12,158 carload decrease in grain traffic due to last year's record harvest. This decrease was partially offset by a 1,922 increase in hook & pull traffic and a 1,272 carload increase in iron ores traffic. All other commodities increased by a net 2,465 carloads.
