Genesee & Wyoming Inc. reported February 2004 traffic volumes for its North American and 50%-owned Australian operations.

North American traffic in February 2004 was 49,291 carloads, an increase of 9,220 carloads, or 23.0%, compared with February 2003. North American traffic for the first quarter through February 2004 was 97,753 carloads, an increase of 13,222 carloads, or 15.6% from the first quarter through February 2003.

Australian traffic in February 2004 was 78,254 carloads, an increase of 19,536 carloads, or 33.3%, compared with February 2003. Australian traffic for the first quarter through February 2004 was 163,179 carloads, an increase of 37,326 carloads, or 29.7% from the first quarter through February 2003.

North American carloads in February 2004 increased by 9,220 carloads, or 23.0%. Excluding 3,951 carloads from three railroads acquired from Georgia-Pacific Corp., which GWI started operating January 1, 2004, North American traffic in February 2004 increased by 5,269 carloads, or 13.1%. This same-railroad increase was primarily due to a 1,662 carload increase in farm & food products led by GWI's Canada Region, a 1,309 carload increase in coal, coke & ores traffic and a 1,229 carload increase in metals traffic led by GWI's New York-Pennsylvania Region. All other commodities increased by a net 1,069 carloads.

North American carloads for the first quarter through February 2004 increased by 13,222 carloads, or 15.6%. Excluding 7,823 carloads from three railroads acquired from Georgia-Pacific Corp., North American traffic for the first quarter through February 2004 increased by 5,399 carloads, or 6.4%.

Australian carloads in February 2004 increased by 19,536 carloads, or 33.3%, compared with February 2003. The increase was primarily the result of a 12,164 carload increase in grain traffic versus the drought affected carload traffic of the prior year and a 4,087 carload increase in iron ore traffic. All other commodities increased by a net 3,285 carloads.

Australian carloads for the first quarter through February 2004, increased by 37,326 carloads, or 29.7%, led by an increase of 26,462 carloads of grain traffic and 5,335 carloads of iron ore traffic. All other commodities increased by a net 5,529 carloads.