RRA Railamerica

RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE:RRA) today reported its freight carloads for the month ended January 31, 2006. Total carloads for January 2006 were 112,829, up 6.9% from 105,507 in January 2005. The acquisition of the Alcoa railroads and the Fremont line in Michigan net of the impact of the sale of the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad in December 2005 and the three Alberta properties in January 2006, accounted for 1,396 carloads of the increase. On a "same railroad" basis, January 2006 carloads increased 5.9% to 107,170, from 101,244 in January 2005. The 5,926 carload increase in 2006 was driven primarily by strong demand for Coal, an increase in shipments of Lumber & Forest Products, and Bridge Traffic. Historically, the Company has found that carload information may be indicative of freight revenue on its railroads, but may not be indicative of total revenue, operating expenses, operating income or net income. Attached is a comparison of North America carloads by commodity group for the periods ended January 31, 2006 and 2005. "Same railroad" totals exclude carloads associated with railroads, or portions of railroads, sold or acquired by the Company after January 1, 2005. RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE:RRA) is a leading short line and regional rail service provider with 43 railroads operating approximately 8,000 track miles in the United States and Canada. The Company is a member of the Russell 2000(R) Index. Its website may be found at http://www.railamerica.com. -0- *T RailAmerica, Inc. Carload Comparisons by Commodity Group Month Ended January 31, 2006 and 2005 Consolidated North American Carloads JANUARY -------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Commodity Group 2006 2005 % Chg -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Bridge Traffic 19,141 16,981 12.7% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Coal 13,554 11,729 15.6% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Lumber & Forest Prod. 11,115 10,465 6.2% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Ag & Farm Products 10,438 10,369 0.7% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Chemicals 10,159 10,139 0.2% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Metals 8,070 7,301 10.5% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Food Products 7,846 7,722 1.6% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Paper Products 7,566 8,996 -15.9% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Metallic/Non-Metallic Ores 6,922 4,617 49.9% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Minerals 5,027 4,394 14.4% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Petroleum Products 4,528 4,863 -6.9% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Other 3,655 2,935 24.5% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Intermodal 2,714 2,800 -3.1% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Autos 2,094 2,196 -4.6% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Total 112,829 105,507 6.9% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ *T -0- *T "Same Railroad" Carloads JANUARY -------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Commodity Group 2006 2005 % Chg -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Bridge Traffic 19,141 16,978 12.7% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Coal 13,554 11,729 15.6% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Lumber & Forest Prod. 10,578 9,555 10.7% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Ag & Farm Products 10,072 9,772 3.1% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Chemicals 9,803 9,901 -1.0% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Metals 7,848 7,258 8.1% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Food Products 7,691 7,611 1.1% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Paper Products 6,582 7,705 -14.6% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Minerals 4,955 4,386 13.0% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Metallic/Non-Metallic Ores 4,558 4,281 6.5% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Petroleum Products 3,992 4,158 -4.0% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Other 3,635 2,914 24.7% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Intermodal 2,714 2,800 -3.1% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Autos 2,047 2,196 -6.8% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ Total 107,170 101,244 5.9% -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ------ *T