(The Association of American Railroads issued the following news release on May 20.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads continued to run well ahead of year earlier volume during the week ended May 15, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Intermodal volume of 210,285 trailers and containers was 7.9 percent ahead of the corresponding week last year and the seventh busiest intermodal week ever. Trailer traffic was up 13.7 percent while container volume showed a 6.0 percent gain.
Carload freight, which doesn’t include the intermodal data, totaled 347,253 units, up 5.0 percent from last year. Total volume was estimated at 31.6 billion ton-miles, up 6.0 percent from the corresponding week last year.
Sharp gains were reported in loadings of grain, up 23.4 percent from last year; petroleum products, up 14.5 percent; chemicals, up 13.8 percent; and coal up 5.9 percent. Among commodities registering declines were primary forest products, down 7.3 percent, and motor vehicles and equipment, off 3.8 percent.
The AAR also reported the following cumulative totals for U.S. railroads during the first 19 weeks of 2004: 6,343,330 carloads, up 3.4 percent from last year; intermodal volume of 3,838,319 trailers or containers, up 7.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 571.4 billion ton-miles, up 4.9 percent from last year’s first 19 weeks.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended May 15 carload traffic totaled 69,576 cars, up 10.3 percent from last year, with agricultural products up 48.5 percent and chemicals up 16.5 percent. Intermodal traffic totaled 44,039 trailers or containers, down 1.5 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 19 weeks of 2004 on the Canadian railroads totaled 1,289,433 carloads, up 7.6 percent from last year, and 778,214 trailers and containers, down 0.3 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 19 weeks of 2004 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 7,632,763 carloads, up 4.1 percent from last year and 4,616,533 trailers and containers, up 6.4 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported that originated carload freight on the Mexican railroad Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM) during the week ended May 15 totaled 8,222 cars, down 6.8 percent from last year. TFM reported intermodal volume of 2,545 originated trailers or containers, down 30.4 percent from the 19th week of 2003. For the first 19 weeks of 2004, TFM reported cumulative originated volume of 158,511 cars, down 4.7 percent from last year, and 61,217 trailers or containers, down 11.0 percent.
Railroads reporting to AAR account for 88 percent of U.S. carload freight and 95 percent of rail intermodal volume. When the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads are included, the figures increase to 95 percent and 100 percent. The Canadian railroads reporting to the AAR account for 90 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.