(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on February 4, 2010.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads today reported that freight traffic continues to show some improvement compared with 2009, though down sharply compared with the same week in 2008. For the week ending Jan. 30, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 278,438 carloads, up 7.0 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 12.7 percent from 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008.
Intermodal traffic totaled 203,952 trailers and containers, up 7.5 percent from a year ago, but down 9.7 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 11.2 percent and trailer volume fell 9.3 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume decreased 2.2 percent and trailer volume dropped 36.5 percent.
In the Western U.S., carloads were down 2.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 9.0 percent compared with 2008. In the Eastern U.S., carloads were up 1.7 percent compared with 2009, and down 17.8 percent compared with the same week in 2008.
Thirteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year, with nonmetallic minerals up considerably at 105.4 percent. Other notable increases were registered in the motor vehicles and equipment category, up 45.7 percent, as well as the grain category, up 41.9 percent. Year-over-year weekly commodity declines from 2009 were slight, with the exception of the “all other carloads” category, down 10.7 percent compared with the same week last year.
Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending Jan. 30, 2010 was estimated at 30.3 billion ton-miles, up 7.8 percent from the same week last year and down 9.8 percent from 2008.
For the first 4 weeks of 2010, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,056,684 carloads, down 0.7 percent from 2009 and 17.7 percent from 2008; 803,275 trailers or containers, up 2.5 percent from 2009, but down 11.2 percent from 2008, and total volume of an estimated 114.7 billion ton-miles, flat compared with the same week in 2009 and down 14.9 percent from 2008.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 69,023 cars for the week, down 8.0 percent from last year, and 42,940 trailers or containers, up 1.5 percent from 2009. For the first 4 weeks of 2010, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 283,104 carloads, up 16.2 percent from last year, and 174,536 trailers or containers, up 3.7 percent from last year.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 13,503 cars, up 20.8 percent from the same week last year, and 6,505 trailers or containers, up 54.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 4 weeks of 2010 was reported as 53,703 carloads, up 25.7 percent from last year; and 26,125 trailers or containers, up 45.2 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first 4 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 1,393,491 carloads, up 3.2 percent from last year, and 1,003,936 trailers and containers, up 3.5 percent from last year.