GWI traffic slumps in May

Greenwich, Conn.-based Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Wednesday said its May traffic volume declined 4.6% compared with May 2011.

Significant declining commodities for the company included coal & coke, down 13.8%. “Coal & coke traffic decreased 1,811 carloads primarily due to lower shipments in GWI’s New York/Pennsylvania, Mountain West, and Ohio Regions,” the company said. Also slipping were.farm & food products, down 15.8%, and autos & auto parts, down 12.4%.

GWI intermodal volume rose 12.6% in May compared with the same month a year ago, as did its traffic in metallic ores, up 49.7%.

GWI owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads and provides railcar switching services in the U.S., Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Belgium.