(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on February 9.)
WASHINGTON — Both intermodal and carload freight registered solid gains during the week ended February 4 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Intermodal volume on U.S. railroads totaled 233,481 trailers or containers, up 6.7 percent from last year, with container volume rising 8.3 percent and trailer volume up 2.0 percent.
Carload freight, which doesn’t include the intermodal data, totaled 344,032 cars for the week, up 4.1 percent from the comparable week last year. Loadings were up 3.7 percent in the East and 4.5 percent in the West. Total volume was estimated at 33.6 billion ton-miles, up 5.3 percent from last year.
Ten of 19 commodity groups were up from last year, with crushed stone, sand and gravel up 17.5 percent; farm products other than grain rising 10.3 percent; and coal gaining 9.3 percent. On the downside, loads of coke were off 17.5 percent; nonmetallic minerals dropped 11.3 percent; and motor vehicles were off 10.6 percent.
Cumulative volume for the first five weeks of 2006 totaled 1,669,505 carloads, up 4.1 percent from 2005; 1,124,185 trailers or containers, up 6.2 percent; and total volume of an estimated 163.0 billion ton-miles, up 5.8 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended February 4 carload traffic totaled 74,156 cars, down 2.5 percent from last year while intermodal volume totaled 42,972 trailers or containers, up 1.6 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first five weeks of 2006 on the Canadian railroads totaled 364,103 carloads, up 1.4 percent from last year, and 209,066 trailers and containers, up 5.1 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first five weeks of 2006 on 13 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 2,033,608 carloads, up 3.6 percent from last year and 1,333,251 trailers and containers, up 6.0 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported that originated carload freight on the Mexican railroad Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) during the week ended February 4 totaled 9,029 cars, up 2.0 percent from last year. KCSM reported intermodal volume of 4,158 originated trailers or containers, up 1.3 percent from the fifth week of 2005.
For the first five weeks of 2006, KCSM reported cumulative originated volume of 36,938 cars, down 12.1 percent from last year, and 16,650 trailers or containers, down 10.7 percent.
Railroads reporting to AAR account for 87 percent of U.S. carload freight and 96 percent of rail intermodal volume. When the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads are included, the figures increase to 96 percent and 100 percent. The Canadian railroads reporting to the AAR account for 91 percent of Canadian rail traffic. Railroads provide more than 40 percent of U.S. intercity freight transportation, more than any other mode, and rail traffic figures are regarded as an important economic indicator.
AAR is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers.