WASHINGTON, D.C. — Carload freight on U.S. railroads reached its highest level this year during the week ended June 15, while intermodal traffic continued its recent surge, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported.
Carload freight totaled 348,048 cars, up 6.6 percent from the corresponding week last year, with loadings up 13.0 percent in the West but down 0.4 percent in the East.
Intermodal traffic, which is not included in the carload data, totaled 188,993 trailers and containers, up 9.1 percent from the comparable week last year. This was the second highest volume for any week this year and the tenth consecutive weekly increase from year earlier levels. Total volume was estimated at 28.9 billion ton-miles, up 5.5 percent from last year’s 24th week.
Fourteen of 19 commodity groups were up from last year, with loadings of metallic ores up 43.1 percent; stone, clay and glass products up 9.7 percent; crushed stone, sand and gravel up 7.4 percent; and coal up 6.9 percent. Coke volume was down 4.8 percent from last year while loadings of primary forest products decreased 3.7 percent. On the intermodal side, container volume rose 14.1 percent while trailer traffic fell 3.1 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported the following cumulative totals for U.S. railroads during the first 24 weeks of 2002: 7,784,420 carloads, down 2.6 percent from last year; intermodal volume of 4,173,848 trailers and containers, up 3.7 percent; and total volume of an estimated 668.3 billion ton?miles, down 1.5 percent from last year’s first 24 weeks.
Railroads reporting to AAR account for 90 percent of U.S. carload freight and 97 percent of rail intermodal volume. When the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads are included, the figures increase to 96 percent and 99 percent. Railroads provide more than 40 percent of the nation’s intercity freight transportation, more than any other mode, and rail traffic figures are regarded as an important economic indicator.
Intermodal traffic was up but carload volume was down on Canadian railroads during the week ended June 15. Intermodal traffic totaled 40,886 trailers and containers, up 16.6 percent from last year. Carload volume was 59,785 cars, down 1.1 percent from the comparable week last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 24 weeks of 2002 on the Canadian railroads totaled 1,458,152 carloads, down 3.0 percent from last year, and 884,940 trailers and containers, up 6.6 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 24 weeks of 2002 on 16 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 9,242,572 carloads, down 2.7 percent from last year and 5,058,788 trailers and containers, up 4.2 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported that carload freight on the Mexican railroad Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM) during the week ended June 15 totaled 10,744 cars originated or received from connecting lines, up 18.6 percent from last year. TFM reported intermodal volume of 4,164 trailers or containers, up 13.5 percent from the 24th week of 2001. For the first 24 weeks of 2002, TFM reported cumulative volume of 248,646 cars, down 3.0 percent from last year, and 85,909 trailers or containers, up 5.1 percent.
AAR is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers.