(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on January 10.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off during the first week of 2008 in comparison with 2007’s initial week, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported. Both weeks included the New Year holiday.
Carload freight totaled 277,741 cars, down 3.2 percent from 2007, with loadings up 5.4 percent in the West but down 15.1 percent in the East, where severe winter storms had a noticeable impact on traffic volume. Intermodal volume of 163,801 trailers or containers was off 13.1 percent from last year, with container volume falling 12.6 percent and trailer volume dipping 15.0 percent. Total volume was estimated at 28.5 billion ton-miles, off 2.4 percent from 2007.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 64,756 cars, down 7.3 percent from last year, and 34,680 trailers or containers, up 6.9 percent.
Combined volume for the first week of 2008 on reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 342,497 carloads, down 4.0 percent from last year, and 198,481 trailers and containers, down 10.2 percent from last year.
Mexican railroad Kansas City Southern de México reported volume of 7,865 carloads, down 1.9 percent from the first week of 2007. Intermodal volume totaled 2,288 trailers or containers, up 0.1 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.