RRA Railamerica

RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE:RRA) today reported its freight carloads for the month ended February 28, 2006. Total carloads for February 2006 were 103,249, down 2.8% from 106,256 in February 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 and the three Alberta properties accounted for a decrease of 1,772 of the carloads. On a "same railroad" basis, February 2006 carloads decreased 1.2% to 100,367, from 101,602 in February 2005. Nine out of fourteen commodity groups had decreased shipments in February 2006. The 1,235 carload decrease was driven primarily by lower shipments of Chemicals, Paper Products and Intermodal. For the two months ended February 28, 2006, total carloads increased 2.0% to 216,078 from 211,763 in 2005. On a "same railroad" basis for the same period, carloads were 207,537 up 2.3% from 202,846 in 2005. "Same railroad" totals exclude carloads associated with railroads, or portions of railroads, sold or acquired by the Company after January 1, 2005. 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 February 28, 2006 and 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/Year-to-Date Ended February 28, 2006 and 2005 Consolidated North American Carloads FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity Group 2006 2005 % Chg 2006 2005 % Chg ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bridge Traffic 21,007 18,416 14.1% 40,148 35,397 13.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Coal 12,041 12,616 -4.6% 25,595 24,345 5.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lumber & Forest Products 9,911 10,596 -6.5% 21,026 21,061 -0.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Agricultural & Farm Products 8,522 9,627 -11.5% 18,960 19,996 -5.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chemicals 8,739 9,769 -10.5% 18,898 19,908 -5.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Food Products 7,122 7,450 -4.4% 14,968 15,172 -1.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Metals 6,972 7,376 -5.5% 15,042 14,677 2.5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Metallic/Non-metallic Ores 6,419 4,672 37.4% 13,341 9,289 43.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paper Products 6,028 8,548 -29.5% 13,594 17,544 -22.5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Minerals 4,926 4,334 13.7% 9,953 8,728 14.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Petroleum Products 3,843 4,895 -21.5% 8,371 9,758 -14.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Other 3,552 2,600 36.6% 7,207 5,535 30.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Intermodal 2,488 3,215 -22.6% 5,202 6,015 -13.5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Autos 1,679 2,142 -21.6% 3,773 4,338 -13.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL 103,249 106,256 -2.8% 216,078 211,763 2.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *T -0- *T "Same Railroad" Carloads" FEBRUARY YEAR-TO-DATE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity Group 2006 2005 % Chg 2006 2005 % Chg ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bridge Traffic 21,007 18,416 14.1% 40,148 35,394 13.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Coal 12,041 12,616 -4.6% 25,595 24,345 5.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lumber & Forest Products 9,911 9,897 0.1% 20,489 19,452 5.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Agricultural & Farm Products 8,522 8,863 -3.8% 18,594 18,635 -0.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chemicals 8,588 9,341 -8.1% 18,391 19,242 -4.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Food Products 7,045 7,440 -5.3% 14,736 15,051 -2.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Metals 6,823 7,351 -7.2% 14,671 14,609 0.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Paper Products 5,873 7,179 -18.2% 12,455 14,884 -16.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Minerals 4,860 4,325 12.4% 9,815 8,711 12.7% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Metallic/Non-metallic Ores 4,336 4,283 1.2% 8,894 8,564 3.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Petroleum Products 3,722 3,965 -6.1% 7,714 8,123 -5.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Other 3,525 2,569 37.2% 7,160 5,483 30.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Intermodal 2,488 3,215 -22.6% 5,202 6,015 -13.5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Autos 1,626 2,142 -24.1% 3,673 4,338 -15.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL 100,367 101,602 -1.2% 207,537 202,846 2.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *T