FTR Associates projects in their January newsletter that year-over-year growth in rail carloads will resume in the next few months, despite continued weakness through the end of 2009. The firm has raised its projection for the year and now indicates that carloads will be 4.6% higher than 2009.

The outlook is improving according to Eric Starks, President of FTR. 'We expect to see comparisons turn modestly positive in the first quarter and then to accelerate later in the year.' We will remain cautious about our outlook for all transportation segments in the short term but we are confident that the worst is over.'

Visit www.ftrassociates.com to learn more about FTR's transportation reports.