(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on August 14, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads today reported that rail traffic continues to reflect the down economy. For the week ended Aug. 8, 2009, U.S. railroads reported originating 274,633 cars, down 16 percent compared with the same week in 2008. Regionally, carloadings were down 14.1 percent in the West and 18.8 percent in the East.
Intermodal volume of 195,014 trailers or containers on U.S. railroads was down 16.6 percent from the same week last year. Container volume fell 10.8 percent and trailer volume dropped 38.1 percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending August 8 was estimated at 29.3 billion ton-miles, off 14.8 percent from the same week last year.
All 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from last year, with declines ranging from 6.1 percent for chemicals to 48.3 percent for metals and metal products.
For the first 31 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,159,672 carloads, down 18.9 percent from 2008; 5,764,816 trailers or containers, down 17.1 percent, and total volume of an estimated 868.3 billion ton-miles, down 18 percent.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 55,404 cars for the week, down 27.2 percent from last year, and 38,135 trailers or containers, down 20.1 percent. For the first 31 weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,846,410 carloads, down 23.9 percent from last year, and 1,243,289 trailers or containers, down 16.3 percent.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 11,533 cars, down 12.7 percent from the same week last year, and 6,005 trailers or containers, off 10.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 31 weeks of 2009 was reported as 351,153 carloads, down 15.3 percent from last year; and 150,740 trailers or containers, down 21.4 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first 31 weeks of 2009 on 14 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 10,357,235 carloads, down 19.8 percent from last year, and 7,158,845 trailers and containers, down 17.1 percent from last year.