JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA) today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended February 28, 2010 were 66,409, up 1.4% from 65,488 in February 2009.  These results exclude the discontinued Ottawa Valley Railway operation.

The Company had increased shipments in February 2010 in five out of twelve commodity groups compared to February 2009.  Much of the increase was due to shipments of Agricultural Products and Metallic Ores and Metals.  The Agriculture Products carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the West, Central and Midwest regions.  Metallic Ores and Metals were up primarily due to higher shipments in the Northeast and Southeast regions.  The largest declines were in Non-Metallic Minerals and Products and the Other commodity group.  Non-Metallic Minerals and Products were down primarily due to lower shipments in the Central and Northeast regions.  Other was down primarily due to lower shipments in the Midwest and Southeast regions.

RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,400 miles of track in 27 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain items in this press release and other information we provide from time to time may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not necessarily limited to, statements relating to future events and financial performance. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements. RailAmerica, Inc. can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could cause actual results to differ materially from RailAmerica, Inc.'s expectations include, but are not limited to, prolonged capital markets disruption and volatility, general economic conditions and business conditions, our relationships with Class I railroads and other connecting carriers, our ability to obtain railcars and locomotives from other providers on which we are currently dependent, legislative and regulatory developments including rulings by the Surface Transportation Board or the Railroad Retirement Board, strikes or work stoppages by our employees, our transportation of hazardous materials by rail, rising fuel costs, acquisition risks, competitive pressures within the industry, risks related to the geographic markets in which we operate; and other risks detailed in RailAmerica, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our prospectus filed with the Commission on October 13, 2009. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for RailAmerica, Inc. to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. RailAmerica, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

    
    
                                   RailAmerica, Inc.
                       Carload Comparisons by Commodity Group
                Month / Quarter to Date Ended February 28, 2010 and 2009
    
                                         February            QTD February
                                   --------------------  ---------------------
    Commodity Group                 2010   2009   % Chg   2010    2009   % Chg
    ---------------                ------ ------  -----  ------  ------  -----
    Coal                           14,847 14,779   0.5%  28,682  29,449  -2.6%
    Agricultural Products          10,028  9,053  10.8%  21,882  18,408  18.9%
    Chemicals                       6,926  6,703   3.3%  14,232  12,854  10.7%
    Non-Metallic Minerals & 
     Products                       5,686  6,540 -13.1%  10,917  12,527 -12.9%
    Metallic Ores & Metals          5,238  3,148  66.4%  10,310   7,195  43.3%
    Food or Kindred Products        4,447  4,044  10.0%   8,949   8,541   4.8%
    Waste & Scrap Materials         4,397  4,523  -2.8%   8,692   8,782  -1.0%
    Pulp, Paper & Allied Products   4,297  4,586  -6.3%   9,166   9,505  -3.6%
    Forest Products                 3,765  4,083  -7.8%   7,098   7,793  -8.9%
    Petroleum                       3,650  4,027  -9.4%   7,808   8,108  -3.7%
    Other                           2,170  2,849 -23.8%   4,121   4,959 -16.9%
    Motor Vehicles                    958  1,153 -16.9%   1,996   1,822   9.5%
    ---------------                ------ ------  -----  ------  ------  -----
    TOTAL                          66,409 65,488   1.4% 133,853 129,943   3.0%

The results in the table above exclude the discontinued Ottawa Valley Railway operation.

SOURCE RailAmerica

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