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Although Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s (GWI) North American railroads continued to boost traffic last month, the company’s half-owned Australian subsidiary remained mired in a carload slump. Today, GWI reported North American carloads totaling 56,919 units, a 6.5 percent increase compared with May 2004. However, Australian Rail Group’s (ARG) May carloads totaling 81,676 units dropped 4.3 percent.

On a "same railroad" basis, GWI’s North American carloads were flat compared with May 2004 because coal coke and ores traffic declined in Illinois and Utah. In Australia, moderate grain moves compared with last year's record harvest reduced year-over-year traffic.

During 2005’s first five months, GWI’s North American carloads totaling 114,706 units rose 7.2 percent compared with the same 2004 period. The traffic increase was driven by lumber and forest products, and pulp and paper moves. Same railroad carloads increased 0.9 percent during the timespan

Through May, ARG’s carloads dropped 4.9 percent compared with the same 2004 period primarily because of reduced grain traffic.