(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on May 15.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sharp increases in loadings of coal, grain, and metallic ores were largely responsible for an overall increase in freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the week ended May 10, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Carload freight in the week ended May 10 totaled 337,103 cars, up 5.0 percent from last year. Volume was up 10.0 percent in the West but down 1.0 percent in the East.
Intermodal volume, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 229,969 trailers or containers, off 1.1 percent from a year ago. Trailer volume was up 4.0 percent, while container volume declined by 2.4 percent.
Total volume was estimated at 34.9 billion ton-miles, up 6.4 percent from the 19th week of 2007.
Eight of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains from last year, with grain up 18.2 percent, coal gaining 11.9 percent, and metallic ores rising 27.8 percent. On the down side, motor vehicles and equipment fell 20.0 percent, lumber and wood products dropped 12.0 percent and primary forest products were off 7.8 percent. Cumulative volume for the first 19 weeks of 2008 totaled 6,178,324 carloads, up 1.3 percent from 2007; 4,166,575 trailers or containers, down 3.4 percent; and total volume of an estimated 639.3 billion ton-miles, up 2.5 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended May 10 carload traffic totaled 76,870 cars, down 4.5 percent from last year while intermodal volume totaled 49,455 trailers or containers, up 2.7 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 19 weeks of 2008 on the Canadian railroads totaled 1,408,900 carloads, down 3.7 percent from last year, and 889,943 trailers and containers, an increase of 4.3 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 19 weeks of 2008 on U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 7,587,224 carloads, up 0.3 percent from last year, and 5,056,518 trailers and containers, off 2.1 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported that carload freight on the Mexican railroad Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) during the week ended May 10 totaled 9,930 cars, off 7.8 percent from last year. KCSM reported intermodal volume of 4,191 trailers or containers, down 5.8 percent from the 19th week of 2007.
For the first 19 weeks of 2008, KCSM reported cumulative volume of 196,244 cars, down 3.9 percent from last year, and 89,190 trailers or containers, up 12.3 percent.
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.
AAR is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers.