advertisement

---

Canadian railroads in 2000 increased traffic volume 6.8 percent to 221 billion revenue ton-miles compared with 1999's 207 billion revenue ton-miles, but held operating expenses to a 2.5 percent increase during the same period, according to Railway Association of Canada's (RAC) Railway Trends 2001 released Dec. 17.
Railway Trends, which provides a 10-year statistical and financial overview of Canada's railroads, also reports that short lines' originated-carload share rose from 15 percent to 30 percent during the past decade.
Other Trends data shows that Canadian railroads last year earned record high operating income of $1.58 billion. And, compared with 1999, rails last year shrank headcount 6 percent from 43,073 workers to 41,082, and reduced fuel consumption 4.6 percent.
"Traffic [last year] was moved with the smallest locomotive and freight-car fleets on record," said RAC President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Rowat in a prepared statement. "This feat was accomplished by the combination of three factors: more powerful, productive and energy-efficient locomotives, longer trains as the average number of cars per train grew by 7.4 percent, and a 6.8 percent increase in net tons per carload."