GWI traffic declines in March, 1Q

Greenwich, Conn.-based Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. said Friday its March 2012 traffic volume fell 13.6% compared with the same month a year ago. As well, GWI's first-quarter traffic volume declined, though less dramatically, by 9.2% measured against the comparable quarter in 2011.

The company said that, excluding 1,310 carloads from the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) acquisition, which closed Sept. 1, 2011, and 250 carloads from the Hilton & Albany Railroad, Inc. (HAL), which commenced operations on New Year’s Day, same-railroad traffic in March 2012 decreased 13,648 carloads, or 15.3% compared with March 2011.

Coal & coke traffic decreased 8,462 carloads, primarily due to lower shipments in GWI’s Illinois, New York/Pennsylvania and Ohio Regions, GWI said, reflecting overall slumps in coal traffic reported by large and smaller railroads alike.

GWI’s Minerals & stone traffic decreased significantly “primarily due to lower shipments in GWI’s Australia and New York/Pennsylvania Regions,” the company said. All remaining traffic decreased by a net 29 carloads, however, the company pointed out.