(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on October 12.)
WASHINGTON — Freight traffic on U.S. railroad rose during the week ended October 7 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Intermodal volume of 250,894 trailers or containers was up 2.5 percent from the comparable week last year. Container volume rose 7.0 percent for the week while trailer volume declined by 10.2 percent.
Carload freight totaled 336,836 cars, up 3.9 percent from last year, with loadings up 8.8 percent in the West but off 2.0 percent in the East.
Total volume was estimated at 34.5 billion ton-miles, up 5.2 percent from 2005.
Among individual carload commodities, metallic ores rose 22.2 percent from last year, while coke gained 13.0 percent and grain was up 11.3 percent. On the downside, lumber and wood products were down 23.1 percent, nonmetallic minerals dropped 14.5 percent and primary forest products were off 13.9 percent. In all 11 of 19 commodity groups were up from last year.
Cumulative volume for the first 40 weeks of 2006 totaled 13,473,039 carloads, up 1.4 percent from 2005; 9,454,369 trailers or containers, up 6.2 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.34 trillion ton-miles, up 2.7 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended October 7 carload traffic totaled 75,460 cars, down 2.9 percent from last year while intermodal volume of 49,711 trailers or containers was up 5.6 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 40 weeks of 2006 on the Canadian railroads totaled 2,985,388 carloads, down 1.2 percent from last year, and 1,811,606 trailers and containers, up 5.8 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 40 weeks of 2006 on 13 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 16,458,427 carloads, up 0.9 percent from last year and 11,265,975 trailers and containers, up 6.1 percent from last year.
The AAR also said that during the week ended October 7 Mexican railroad Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) reported total carload volume of 12,552 cars, up 7.0 percent from last year. KCSM reported total intermodal volume of 4,103 trailers or containers, down 0.6 percent from the 40th week of 2005.
For the first 40 weeks of 2006, KCSM reported total cumulative volume of 453,633 cars, down 3.8 percent from last year, and 159,730 trailers or containers, down 3.4 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.