JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA) today reported that its total freight carloads for the month ended March 31, 2011 were 76,732, up 0.9% from 76,045 in March 2010.  

The Company had increased shipments in March 2011 in seven out of twelve commodity groups compared to March 2010.  Much of the increase was due to shipments of Non-Metallic Minerals and Products and Waste and Scrap Materials.  Non-Metallic Minerals and Products increased primarily due to shipments in the Northeast, Central and Midwest regions.  Waste and Scrap Materials volumes were up primarily in the Southeast and West regions.  The largest declines were in Agricultural Products and Other.  Agricultural Products were down primarily due to lower shipments in the West region, and Other was down primarily due to decreased shipments in the Northeast and Central regions.

RailAmerica, Inc. owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,300 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, goodwill assessment risks, 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 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  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 Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
    
                                          March              QTD March  
                                 ----------------------- ---------------------
    Commodity Group               2011    2010   % Chg    2011    2010   % Chg
    ---------------              ------  ------  -----   ------  ------  -----
    Coal                         14,241  14,093   1.1%   40,745  42,775  -4.7%
    Agricultural Products        11,270  12,060  -6.6%   30,710  33,942  -9.5%
    Chemicals                     8,973   8,862   1.3%   24,902  23,412   6.4%
    Non-Metallic Minerals and 
     Products                     8,034   6,838  17.5%   19,850  17,764  11.7%
    Metallic Ores and Metals      6,780   6,746   0.5%   16,599  17,059  -2.7%
    Pulp, Paper & Allied Products 5,761   5,321   8.3%   17,007  15,373  10.6%
    Waste & Scrap Materials       5,252   4,417  18.9%   13,093  13,115  -0.2%
    Food or Kindred Products      4,648   5,069  -8.3%   13,636  14,018  -2.7%
    Forest Products               4,427   4,355   1.7%   11,432  11,486  -0.5%
    Petroleum                     3,605   4,015 -10.2%   11,316  11,823  -4.3%
    Other                         2,597   3,024 -14.1%    7,055   7,242  -2.6%
    Motor Vehicles                1,144   1,245  -8.1%    2,697   3,241 -16.8%
                                 ------  ------  -----   ------- ------- -----
    TOTAL                        76,732  76,045   0.9%   209,042 211,250 -1.0%

SOURCE RailAmerica, Inc.