(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on June 18, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the week ended June 13 continued to show signs of gradual improvement, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Rail carloadings and intermodal were up from the previous week with carloads at their highest level in 10 weeks. While traffic showed signs of improvement from the previous week, compared year over year traffic remains down.
U.S railroads reported originating 261,956 cars, up 0.6 percent from the previous week this year, but down 19 percent from the same week in 2008. Regionally, carloadings were down 14.7 percent in the West and 24.8 percent in the East.
Intermodal volume of 189,508 trailers or containers was up 0.4 percent from the previous week, but was down 17 percent from the same week last year. Container volume fell 11.5 percent and trailer volume dropped 37.0 percent.
Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending June 13 was estimated at 27.7 billion ton-miles, off 17.8 percent from the same week last year.
Eighteen of 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from last year, with declines ranging from 5.5 percent for coal to 61.4 percent for metals and products. The lone group showing an increase was farm products other than grain which was up 4.8 percent.
For the first 23 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,061,643 carloads, down 19.5 percent from 2008; 4,270,377 trailers or containers, down 16.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 643.3 billion ton-miles, down 16.9 percent.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 56,978 cars for the week, down 26.6 percent from last year, and 39,081 trailers or containers, down 18.8 percent. For the first twenty-three weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,359,752 carloads, down 24.1 percent from last year; and 927,712 trailers or containers, down 15.2 percent.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 12,441 cars, down 14.4 percent from last year’s twenty-third week, and 4,762 trailers or containers, off 29.0 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first twenty-three weeks of 2009 was reported as 256,160 carloads, down 14.5 percent from last year; and 109,645 trailers or containers, down 21.0 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first twenty-three weeks of 2009 on 14 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 7,677,555 carloads, down 20.2 percent from last year, and 5,307,734 trailers and containers, down 16.7 percent from last year.