(The Association of American Railroads posted the following article on its website on March 6.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. rail intermodal volume rose 5.3 percent (36,692 trailers and containers), while carload traffic fell 0.7 percent (8,352 carloads) in February 2003 compared to February 2002, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
For the ninth straight month, metallic ores saw the highest volume increase among major commodity categories, rising 13,880 carloads (46.5 percent) in February 2003 compared to February 2002. Carloads of metals and metal products were up 8.2 percent (3,964 carloads) in February 2003, while carloads of chemicals were up 3.0 percent (3,401 carloads). Carloads of coal were down 5.7 percent (30,519 carloads) in February, grain was down 6.4 percent (5,739 carloads), and crushed stone & gravel was down 6.1 percent (4,110 carloads).
Twelve of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw carload increases in February 2003 compared with February 2002. Excluding coal, carloads were up 3.0 percent (22,167 carloads) in February 2003.
For the first two months of 2003, total U.S. rail carloads were down 0.4 percent (10,372 carloads), as significant increases in carloads of metallic ores (up 41.5 percent, or 32,810 carloads) and several other categories were more than offset by declines in coal (down 6.2 percent, or 74,144 carloads) and grain (down 5.4 percent, or 10,783 carloads).
The fact that rail volumes excluding coal are actually up a fair amount, despite the harsh winter weather (particularly in the East), may suggest that better economic times lie ahead, noted AAR Vice President Craig F. Rockey. For now, though, rail traffic figures support the view that U.S. economic conditions remain relatively lackluster.
U.S. intermodal traffic, which consists of trailers and containers on flat cars and is not included in carload figures, was up 8.4 percent (123,856 trailers and containers) for the first two months of 2003. Despite its rapid growth, rail intermodal remains underutilized, Rockey remarked. A more prominent focus on intermodal and freight rail in general would provide a safer, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly alternative to transport freight.
Canadian rail carload traffic was down 0.2 percent (593 carloads) in February 2003 and down 0.7 percent (3,668 carloads) for the year to date. In February, carloads of chemicals in Canada were up 9.8 percent (5,479 carloads), while carloads of grain were down 17.2 percent (5,331 carloads). For the first two months of 2003, chemicals were up 8.5 percent (10,618 carloads) and grain was down 17.3 percent (12,259 carloads). Canadian intermodal traffic was up 7.3 percent (10,970 units) in February 2003 compared with February 2002, and up 12.6 percent (39,411 units) for the first two months of 2003.
Carloads originated on Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM), a major Mexican railroad, were up 10.5 percent (3,391 carloads) in February, while intermodal originations were up 44.4 percent (4,542 trailers and containers). For the first two months of 2003, TFM carloadings were up 12.3 percent (8,498 carloads), while intermodal traffic was up 54.5 percent (11,025 units).
For just the week ended March 1, the AAR reported the following totals for U.S. railroads: 315,765 carloads, down 0.5 percent from the corresponding week in 2002, with loadings down 1.2 percent in the East and up 0.1 percent in the West; intermodal volume of 181,427 trailers and containers, up 0.7 percent; and total volume of an estimated 28.2 billion ton-miles, down 0.4 percent from the equivalent week last year.
For Canadian railroads during the week ended March 1, the AAR reported volume of 64,705 carloads, up 1.1 percent from last year; and 41,610 trailers and containers, up 7.5 percent from the corresponding week in 2002.
Combined cumulative volume for the first nine weeks of 2003 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 3,364,528 carloads, down 0.4 percent (14,040 carloads) from last year; and 1,949,501 trailers and containers, up 9.1 percent (163,267 trailers and containers) from 2002’s first nine weeks.