(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on November 30.)
WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was off slightly during the week ended November 25 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. Both this year’s week and the comparison week from last year included the Thanksgiving holiday.
Total volume of an estimated 29.9 billion ton-miles was 0.3 percent lower than during the comparable week last year.
Intermodal volume of 195,560 trailers or containers was up 2.0 percent from last year. Container volume rose 6.9 percent for the week while trailer volume declined by 11.8 percent.
Carload freight totaled 290,680 cars, down 1.6 percent from last year, with loadings up 2.4 percent in the West but down 7.3 percent in the East.
Eight out of 19 carload commodity groups were up from last year, with loadings of coke up 21.1 percent. Farm products other than grain rose 13.3 percent, while metallic ores gained 7.7 percent.
Among commodities registering declines were loadings of lumber and wood products, down 29.1 percent; primary forest products, off 24.1 percent; and motor vehicles and equipment, down 21.4 percent.
Cumulative volume for the first 47 weeks of 2006 totaled 15,779,217 carloads, up 1.2 percent from 2005; 11,152,482 trailers or containers, up 5.4 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.58 trillion ton-miles, up 2.4 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended November 25 carload traffic totaled 71,660 cars, down 3.5 percent from last year while intermodal volume of 45,121 trailers or containers was up 1.5 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 47 weeks of 2006 on the Canadian railroads totaled 3,506,487 carloads, down 1.6 percent from last year, and 2,146,117 trailers and containers, up 5.4 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 47 weeks of 2006 on 13 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 19,285,704 carloads, up 0.7 percent from last year and 13,298,599 trailers and containers, up 5.4 percent from last year.
The AAR also said that during the week ended November 25 Mexican railroad Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) reported total carload volume of 11,239 cars, down 3.0 percent from last year. KCSM reported total intermodal volume of 4,679 trailers or containers, up 13.2 percent from the 47th week of 2005.
For the first 47 weeks of 2006, KCSM reported total cumulative volume of 535,687 cars, down 3.0 percent from last year, and 192,595 trailers or containers, down 1.0 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.