WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads ended the year on a positive note with total volume as measured in ton-miles establishing an annual record, and carload freight registering gains in both December and the fourth quarter of 2001 in comparison with the previous year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on its website.
Total volume was estimated at a record 1.489 trillion ton-miles, 1.1 percent more than the previous record of 1.473 trillion ton-miles set in 2000.
Carload traffic rose 2.9 percent (35,463 carloads) in December. Carload volume got progressively stronger during the fourth quarter, with each month higher than in the same month a year earlier. Overall, volume for the quarter rose 1.8 percent (73,989 carloads) compared to the same period in 2000. In spite of the year-end gains, for the full year U.S. rail carloadings were down 0.7 percent (121,051 carloads) from the previous year.
U.S. rail carloadings in December were paced by coal, which was up a solid 8.2 percent (40,340 carloads) for the month. Carloads of crushed stone and gravel were up 19.0 percent (10,420 carloads) in December, carloads of motor vehicles and equipment were up 15.0 percent (11,956 carloads), and carloads of grain were up 6.8 percent (5,256 carloads). Among commodities showing declines in carloadings in December were metallic ores (down 21.0 percent, or 11,559 carloads), primary metal products (down 11.8 percent, or 5,569 carloads), and nonmetallic minerals (down 17.3 percent, or 5,177 carloads).
In the fourth quarter of 2001, carloads of coal were up 5.6 percent (94,732 carloads), carloads of grain were up 7.5 percent (21,182 carloads), and carloads of crushed stone and gravel were up 7.6 percent (17,962 carloads). On the down side, carloads of primary metal products were down 9.0 percent (14,569 carloads) in the fourth quarter, followed by chemicals (down 3.2 percent, or 11,452 carloads), pulp and paper (down 6.2 percent, or 7,541 carloads), and primary forest products (down 11.6 percent, or 7,481 carloads).
For the full year 2001, U.S. coal carloadings were up 5.2 percent (349,239 carloads), while most other commodity categories saw a decline. Of the 19 commodity categories tracked by the AAR, 5 saw higher carloadings in 2001 than in 2000 and 14 saw lower carloadings. U.S. intermodal rail traffic, which is not included in carload figures, was down 1.5 percent (9,496 trailers and containers) in December 2001, down 2.3 percent (53,303 trailers and containers) in the fourth quarter of 2001, and down 2.6 percent (241,446 trailers and containers) for the full year 2001 compared with 2000.
“Although 2001 was a challenging year, it is heartening that railroad carload traffic ended the year with progressively stronger gains during the fourth quarter and that the estimated increase in 2001 ton-miles should mitigate the impact of annual traffic declines,” observed AAR vice president Craig F. Rockey. “Forecasts call for an increasingly vibrant economy as 2002 unfolds and railroads stand ready to assist with the recovery.”
Canadian rail carloads were down 0.3 percent (780 carloads) in December 2001, down 1.9 percent (15,601 carloads) in the fourth quarter, and down 1.9 percent (61,252 carloads) compared with the same period of 2000. Commodities showing year-over-year carload gains for Canadian railroads in 2001 include grain (up 3.5 percent, or 16,433 carloads), coal (up 3.6 percent, or 15,997 carloads), and metallic ores (up 12.6 percent, or 7,147 carloads). Commodities showing carload declines for Canadian railroads in 2001 include motor vehicles and equipment (down 7.5 percent, or 30,517 carloads), chemicals (down 4.4 percent, or 30,346 carloads), and pulp/paper products (down 3.9 percent, or 9,573 carloads).
Canadian intermodal traffic was up 2.2 percent (2,740 trailers and containers) in December, up 0.6 percent (2,908 trailers and containers) in the fourth quarter, and up 1.8 percent (32,258 trailers and containers) for the full year 2001 compared with 2000.
Recently added to AAR’s weekly reporting, Mexico’s TFM, S.A. de C.V. railway originated 26,658 carloads and 6,017 trailers and containers during December. Including traffic received from other carriers, TFM handled 40,145 carloads and 9,263 trailers and containers during the month.
For just the week ended December 29, U.S. railroads originated 226,319 carloads, down 1.7 percent from the corresponding week in 2000, with loadings down 7.2 percent in the East and up 1.9 percent in the West. Intermodal volume was 104,285 trailers and containers, down 15.9 percent. Total volume was estimated at 19.9 billion ton-miles, down 0.5 percent. In the same week, Canadian railroads originated 37,098 carloads, down 4.3 percent from 2000; and 19,240 trailers and containers, down 11.3 percent from the corresponding week in 2000. Finally, Mexico’s TFM originated 4,956 carloads and 585 trailers and containers the week ended December 29, and handled a total of 7,213 carloads and 847 trailers and containers.
Combined cumulative volume for the 52 weeks of 2001 on 16 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 20,451,737 carloads, down 0.9 percent (182,303 carloads) from 2000; and 10,763,499 trailers and containers, down 1.9 percent (209,188 trailers and containers) from 2000.