The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has released the 2010 Edition of Railroad Facts – the premier industry statistical reference book. The publication notes that in 2009, rail traffic experienced the largest percentage decrease since 1949 with carloads down 15.1 percent and ton-miles down 13.8 percent, but that aggressive cost management by railroads helped to bolster year-end performance and allowed for record capital investment totaling $9.9 billion.

Railroad Facts contains more than 80 pages of facts and statistics for 2009, as well as historical data on critical aspects of railroad business, including: finance, operations, plant and equipment, employment and compensation, fuel consumption, and costs. The publication contains a profile of each Class I railroad, Amtrak, the two major Canadian railroads, and the two largest Mexican railways. New this year are “Year in Review” and “Preview of 2010” features, as well as designated sections for advertisement.

Copies of the publication are available for purchase by non-AAR members for $20 with discounts applied for purchases of two or more copies. The cost for AAR members is $5 per copy. Additional shipping and handling charges apply for each order. The publication is also available online at www.aar.org. Go to Statistics & Publications – Publications – Online catalog.