(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 22, 2013)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported increased weekly rail traffic for the week ending August 17, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 295,901 carloads, up 0.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 256,458 units, up 3.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. rail traffic for the week was 552,359 combined carloads and intermodal units, up 2 percent compared with the same week last year.
Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, led by petroleum and petroleum products with 13,098 carloads, up 19.6 percent. Commodities showing a decrease compared with the same week last year included grain with 16,621 carloads, down 8 percent.
For the first 33 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,186,839 carloads, down 1.2 percent from the same point last year, and 8,003,490 intermodal units, up 3.5 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 33 weeks of 2013 was 17,190,329 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9 percent from last year.
Canadian railroads reported 78,160 carloads for the week, up 1.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 56,541 intermodal units, up 4.9 percent compared with 2012. For the first 33 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,560,772 carloads, up 1.4 percent from the same point last year, and 1,747,145 intermodal units, up 4 percent from last year.
Mexican railroads reported 16,042 carloads for the week, up 11.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,140 intermodal units, down 6 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 33 weeks of 2013 is 510,990 carloads, up 9.2 percent from the same point last year, and 315,139 intermodal units, down 1.1 percent from last year.
Combined North American rail volume for the 33 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 12,258,601 carloads, down 0.3 percent compared with the same point last year, and 10,065,774 trailers and containers, up 3.5 percent compared with last year.