(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on May 14, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads remained sharply down from a year ago during the week ended May 9, the Association of American Railroads reported today.
U.S. railroads originated 249,576 cars during the week, down 25.8 percent from the comparison week in 2008, with loadings down 21.4 percent in the West and 31.7 percent in the East.
All 19 carload commodity groups were down from last year, with declines ranging from 10.7 percent for the catch-all category of all other carloads to 64.7 percent for metals and metal products.
Intermodal volume of 181,662 trailers or containers was off 21.0 percent from last year, with container volume down 16.4 percent and trailer traffic off 37.9 percent.
Total volume was estimated at 26.4 billion ton-miles, off 25.2 percent from 2008.
For the first 18 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,789,321 carloads, down 18.8 percent from 2008; 3,343,134 trailers or containers, down 16.5 percent; and total volume of an estimated 508.4 billion ton-miles, down 17.7 percent.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 53,699 cars for the week, down 34.6 percent from last year, and 41,750 trailers or containers, down 15.5 percent. For the first 18 weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,087,042 carloads, down 22.4 percent from last year; and 733,578 trailers or containers, down 14.1 percent.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 9,575 cars, down 16.9 percent from last year, and 4,354 trailers or containers, down 22.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 18 weeks of 2009 was reported as 194,711 carloads, down 13.2 percent from last year; and 84,482 trailers or containers, down 20.4 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first 18 weeks of 2009 on 14 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 6,071,074 carloads, down 19.3 percent from last year, and 4,161,194 trailers and containers, down 16.2 percent from last year.
Railroads reporting to AAR account for 89 percent of U.S. carload freight and 98 percent of rail intermodal volume. When the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads are included, the figures increase to 96 percent and 100 percent. The Canadian railroads reporting to the AAR account for 91 percent of Canadian rail traffic. Railroads provide more than 40 percent of U.S. intercity freight transportation, more than any other mode, and rail traffic figures are regarded as an important economic indicator.