(The Association of American Railroads issued the following news release on April 14.)
WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroads was up from the comparable week last year during the week ended April 9, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Intermodal volume for the week totaled 213,899 trailers and containers, up 6.2 percent from a year ago, with containers up 7.8 percent and trailers gaining 2.0 percent.
Carload freight totaled 343,376 units during the week, up 4.9 percent from a year ago with loadings up 7.0 percent in the West and 2.2 percent in the East. Total volume was estimated at 32.1 billion ton-miles, up 5.9 percent from 2004. The 2004 week included Good Friday, which is a holiday on many railroads.
Sixteen of 19 carload commodities were up from last year, with crushed stone, sand and gravel up 12.6 percent; grain mill products up 11.5 percent; metals up 9.2 percent; and coal up 4.3 percent. Primary forest products were down 8.7 percent while metallic ores were off 6.5 percent.
Cumulative volume for the first 14 weeks of 2005 totaled 4,746,928 carloads, up 2.7 percent from 2004; 2,995,153 trailers or containers, up 7.5 percent; and total volume of an estimated 440.8 billion ton-miles, up 3.5 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended April 9 carload traffic totaled 71,024 cars, up 4.0 percent from last year while intermodal volume totaled 41,323 trailers or containers, up 0.2 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 14 weeks of 2005 on the Canadian railroads totaled 977,200 carloads, up 1.8 percent from last year, and 580,007 trailers and containers, up 4.6 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 14 weeks of 2005 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 5,724,128 carloads, up 2.5 percent from last year and 3,575,160 trailers and containers, up 7.0 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 9 totaled 8,828 cars, up 6.9 percent from last year. TFM reported intermodal volume of 4,389 originated trailers or containers, up 68.9 percent from the 14th week of 2004. For the first 14 weeks of 2005, TFM reported cumulative originated volume of 119,688 cars, up 3.9 percent from last year, and 51,702 trailers or containers, up 7.7 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.
AAR is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers.