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Last month, Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) subsidiary railroads moved 73,279 carloads, a 6.5 percent increase compared with September 2005. However, “same railroad” traffic — excluding carloads moved by Genesee & Wyoming Australia and Chattahoochee Bay Railroad, which began operations in June and August, respectively — decreased 6.6 percent compared with similar 2005 data.

U.S. and Canadian same railroad carloads declined 5.3 percent in September primarily because of a drop in lumber and forest product, pulp and paper, and farm and food product traffic.

In the third quarter, GWI railroads moved 225,878 carloads, a 10.6 percent increase compared with similar 2005 data. But same railroad traffic decreased 3.7 percent.

During the quarter, a portion of the Mexico Region’s track damaged by Hurricane Stan in October 2005 still was inoperable. In addition, U.S. and Canadian lumber and forest product, pulp and paper, and farm and food product traffic remained soft.

Meanwhile, RailAmerica Inc. subsidiary railroads’ September carloads totaled 100,385 units, a 6.7 percent decline compared with September 2005. On a same railroad basis — excluding traffic from railroads or portions of railroads sold or acquired after Jan. 1, 2005 — September carloads dropped 5.5 percent to 97,842 units.

RailAmerica officials attribute the decline to weak coal, lumber and forest products, paper products and minerals traffic.

During 2006’s first nine months, subsidiary railroads moved 946,882 carloads, down 3 percent compared with similar 2005 data. Same railroad carloads decreased 1.5 percent to 919,469 units.