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For RailAmerica Inc., numbers truly can be deceiving. The short-line holding company Aug. 19 reported that July carloads (including intermodal units) increased 14.5 percent to 115,737 compared with 101,094 in July 2001, and year-to-date carloads through July increased 16.5 percent to 831,303 compared with 713,533 during a similar period last year.


But those carload figures include data from former StatesRail and ParkSierra Rail Group properties, which RailAmerica acquired in late 2001.


On a "same-railroad" basis (excluding former StatesRail and ParkSierra short-line figures), RailAmerica's July carloads actually dropped 4.6 percent from 99,108 to 94,551, and year-to-date carloads decreased 1.6 percent from 699,735 to 688,634.


North American carloads (on a same-railroad basis) in July declined 3.9 percent (from 71,195 to 68,446) and year to date slipped 1.9 percent (from 506,647 to 496,878).


Meanwhile, international carloads (on a same-railroad basis) in July dipped
6.5 percent (from 27,913 to 26,105) and year to date dropped 0.7 percent (from 193,088 to 191,756).