(The Association of American Railroads issued the following news release on April 21.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Total freight traffic on U.S. railroads as measured in ton-miles was at its highest level ever during the week ended April 16, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Total volume was estimated 33.3 billion ton-miles, up 4.7 percent from the comparable week last year. It also broke the record of 33.2 billion ton-miles which was set during the week ended November 20, 2004.
Carload freight totaled 353,864 cars, up 3.1 percent from last year, with volume up 5.6 percent in the east and 1.2 percent in the west. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 219,932 trailers and containers, up 6.4 percent from a year ago, with containers up 7.5 percent and trailers gaining 3.3 percent.
Thirteen of 19 carload commodities were up from last year, with coke up 36.2 percent; crushed stone, sand and gravel up 13.5 percent; grain mill products up 12.5 percent; and farm products other than grain up 12.3 percent. Primary forest products were down 8.4 percent while metallic ores were off 8.5 percent.
Cumulative volume for the first 15 weeks of 2005 totaled 5,100,085 carloads, up 2.7 percent from 2004; 3,215,085 trailers or containers, up 7.4 percent; and total volume of an estimated 474.1 billion ton-miles, up 3.6 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended April 16 carload traffic totaled 71,724 cars, down 4.0 percent from last year while intermodal volume totaled 44,486 trailers or containers, off 0.2 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 15 weeks of 2005 on the Canadian railroads totaled 1,048,924 carloads, up 1.4 percent from last year, and 624,493 trailers and containers, up 4.2 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 15 weeks of 2005 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 6,149,716 carloads, up 2.5 percent from last year and 3,839,578 trailers and containers, up 6.9 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported that originated carload freight on the Mexican railroad Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM) during the week ended April 16 totaled 9,460 cars, up 9.7 percent from last year. TFM reported intermodal volume of 4,534 originated trailers or containers, up 25.2 percent from the 15th week of 2004. For the first 15 weeks of 2005, TFM reported cumulative originated volume of 129,148 cars, up 4.3 percent from last year, and 56,236 trailers or containers, up 9.0 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.