Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported December 2005 and fourth quarter 2005 traffic volumes for its North American and 50%-owned Australian operations.
North American traffic in December 2005 was 62,471 carloads, an increase of 8,654 carloads, or 16.1%, compared with December 2004. North American traffic for the fourth quarter of 2005 was 192,505 carloads, an increase of 29,618 carloads, or 18.2%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004.
Australian traffic in December 2005 was 83,681 carloads, an increase of 2,864 carloads, or 3.5%, compared with December 2004. Australian traffic for the fourth quarter of 2005 was 239,963 carloads, a decrease of 3,635 carloads, or 1.5%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. North American carloads in December 2005 increased by 8,654 carloads, or 16.1%. Excluding 1,814 carloads from the First Coast Railroad which GWI started operating April 9, 2005, and 7,710 carloads from the former Rail Management Corp. railroads which GWI started operating June 1, 2005, North American traffic in December 2005 decreased by 870 carloads, or 1.6%. This decrease was primarily due to a 1,099 carload decrease in farm & food products traffic, of which 719 carloads were due to service disruptions from Hurricane Stan in GWI's Mexico Region. In total, GWI's Mexico Region experienced a 1,352 carload decrease in December 2005 compared to December 2004. Excluding Mexico, all other carloads were up 482 cars.
North American carloads in the fourth quarter of 2005 increased by 29,618 carloads, or 18.2%. Excluding 2,656 carloads from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad which GWI started operating November 1, 2004, 5,729 carloads from the First Coast Railroad which GWI started operating April 9, 2005, and 24,157 carloads from the former Rail Management Corp. railroads which GWI started operating June 1, 2005, North American traffic in the fourth quarter of 2005 decreased by 2,924 carloads, or 1.8%. This same-railroad decrease was primarily due to a 2,897 carload decrease in farm & food traffic of which 1,147 carloads were due to service disruptions in GWI's Mexico Region due to Hurricane Stan and the balance due to the expected discontinuation of rail service for sugar cane in Louisiana. These decreases were partially offset by a 2,024 increase in coal, coke & ores traffic primarily in GWI's New York-Pennsylvania Region. In total, GWI's Mexico Region experienced a 3,268 carload decrease. Excluding Mexico, all other carloads were up 344 carloads.
Australian carloads in December 2005 increased by 2,864 carloads, or 3.5%, compared with December 2004. The increase was primarily the result of a 2,428 carload increase in iron ores traffic. All other commodities increased by a net 436 carloads.
Australian carloads in the fourth quarter of 2005 decreased by 3,635 carloads, or 1.5%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. The decrease was primarily the result of a 12,062 carload decrease in grain traffic due to last year's record harvest. This decrease was partially offset by a 3,700 increase in iron ores traffic. All other commodities increased by a net 4,727 carloads.
