(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on February 12, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the week ended February 7 was off again in comparison with last year, although up slightly from the previous week this year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Carload freight totaled 265,143 cars, down 16.1 percent from the comparison week in 2008, with loadings down 12.2 percent in the West and 21.6 percent in the East. Compared with the previous week this year, carload volume was up 1.4 percent.
Intermodal volume of 191,511 trailers or containers was off 15.0 percent from last year, with container volume falling 10.9 percent and trailer volume dipping 29.7 percent. Intermodal volume was up 0.9 percent from the previous week this year.
Total volume was estimated at 28.2 billion ton-miles, off 15.1 percent from 2008 but up 1.4 percent from the previous week this year.
Eighteen of nineteen carload commodity groups were off last week in comparison with last year, with the only increase being reported in the miscellaneous category of “all other carloads,” which was up 8.6 percent.
For the first five weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,332,691 carloads, down 16.7 percent from 2008; 979,626 trailers or containers, down 13.3 percent; and total volume of an estimated 141.5 billion ton-miles, down 15.6 percent.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 63,517 cars for the week, down 15.1 percent from last year, and 42,713 trailers or containers, down 7.6 percent. For the first five weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 306,548 carloads, down 18.1 percent from last year; and 211,289 trailers or containers, down 11.3 percent.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 10,475 cars, down 5.9 percent from last year’s fifth week, and 4,773 trailers or containers, off 4.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first five weeks of 2009 was reported as 52,630 carloads, down 13.6 percent from last year; and 22,724 trailers or containers, down 20.4 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first five weeks of 2009 on 14 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 1,691,869 carloads, down 16.9 percent from last year, and 1,213,639 trailers and containers, down 13.1 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.