RailAmerica, Inc. Reports August 2010 Monthly Carloads

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA) today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended August 31, 2010 were 72,221, up 3.6% from 69,702 in August 2009.  These results exclude the discontinued Ottawa Valley Railway operation.

The Company had increased shipments in August 2010 in six out of twelve commodity groups compared to August 2009.  Much of the increase was due to shipments of Metallic Ores and Metals, Chemicals, and Non-Metallic Minerals and Products.  Metallic Ores and Metals carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the Northeast and Central regions.  Chemical volumes were up primarily due to increased shipments in the Midwest, Northeast, and West regions.  Non-Metallic Minerals and Products carloads increased primarily due to higher shipments in the Southeast and Midwest regions.  The largest declines were in Coal, Waste and Scrap Materials, and Motor Vehicles.  Coal was down primarily due to lower shipments in the Central region.  Waste and Scrap Materials were lower primarily due to decreased shipments in the West and Southeast regions.  Motor Vehicles were down primarily due to decreased shipments in the Midwest region.

The company expects carloads to grow approximately 5% in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2009.

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," "appears," "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 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 26, 2010.  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 August 31, 2010 and 2009
    
                                      August                 QTD August
                            ------------------------  ------------------------
        Commodity Group       2010    2009    % Chg     2010    2009    % Chg
        ---------------     ------- -------  -------  ------- -------  -------
    Coal                     15,495  16,236    -4.6%   31,873  32,500    -1.9%
    Agricultural Products    10,824  10,659     1.5%   22,050  21,399     3.0%
    Chemicals                 7,916   6,718    17.8%   15,433  13,678    12.8%
    Non-Metallic Minerals
     & Products               7,314   6,795     7.6%   14,344  13,357     7.4%
    Metallic Ores & Metals    6,087   3,482    74.8%   11,851   6,618    79.1%
    Pulp, Paper & Allied
     Products                 5,448   4,986     9.3%   10,698  10,055     6.4%
    Waste & Scrap Materials   4,843   5,379   -10.0%    9,449   9,801    -3.6%
    Food or Kindred Products  4,241   4,064     4.4%    9,157   8,574     6.8%
    Forest Products           3,837   4,073    -5.8%    7,944   8,137    -2.4%
    Petroleum                 2,950   3,074    -4.0%    6,178   6,580    -6.1%
    Other                     2,512   2,903   -13.5%    4,639   6,244   -25.7%
    Motor Vehicles              754   1,333   -43.4%    1,676   2,564   -34.6%
    -------------------     ------- -------  -------  ------- -------  -------
    TOTAL                    72,221  69,702     3.6%  145,292 139,507     4.1%
    

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

SOURCE RailAmerica, Inc.