The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has released the 2010 edition of "Railroad Facts." The reference book contains more than 80 pages of facts and statistics for 2009, as well as historical data on critical aspects of the railroad business, including finance, operations, plant and equipment, employment and compensation, fuel consumption and costs. It features a profile of each Class I railroad, Amtrak, the two major Canadian railroads and the two largest Mexican carriers. New this year are "Year in Review" and "Preview of 2010" features. According to the 2010 edition, rail traffic in 2009 experienced the largest percentage decrease since 1949, with carloads down 15.1 percent and ton-miles down 13.8 percent. Copies of "Railroad Facts" can be purchased by non-AAR members for $20, with discounts available for two or more copies. AAR members pay $5 per copy. The publication is available online at www.aar.org.
