WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 7.0 percent (50,974 trailers and containers) in September and 7.7 percent (176,909 units) in the third quarter of 2002 compared to 2001, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on its website. Meanwhile, U.S. rail carload traffic rose 1.2 percent (16,801 carloads) in September and 1.8 percent (76,992 carloads) in the third quarter, the AAR reported.
“Intermodal combines the door-to-door convenience of trucks with the long-haul economy of rail. It has been the fastest growing segment of U.S. rail traffic over the past ten years,” noted AAR Vice President Craig F. Rockey. “A recent study predicts that intermodal will soon overtake coal as the top revenue source for U.S. railroads. Intermodal has grown so quickly, and is doing so well now, because railroads offer reliable, timely service that saves fuel, reduces highway congestion, and saves shippers substantial amounts of money as well.”
On the carload side in September 2002 compared with September 2001, metallic ores were up 16.6 percent (10,494 carloads) to top all other commodity categories. Other commodities showing year-over-year rail traffic gains in September 2002 included motor vehicles and equipment (up 7.6 percent, or 7,236 carloads), primary metal products (up 8.3 percent, or 4,187 carloads), and nonmetallic minerals (up 10.3 percent, or 2,859 carloads). In September, carloads of grain were down 8.1 percent (6,725 carloads), carloads of primary forest products were down 16.3 percent (3,151 carloads), and carloads of coal were down 0.6 percent (3,054 carloads).
For the third quarter of 2002, rail carloads of metallic ores were up 22.4 percent (44,088 carloads), motor vehicles and equipment were up 4.9 percent (13,581 carloads), primary metal products were up 7.0 percent (11,607 carloads), and nonmetallic minerals were up 10.8 percent (9,619 carloads). Carloads of grain were down 3.1 percent (8,252 carloads), while carloads of coal were down 0.4 percent (7,364 carloads) in the third quarter. Both in September and in the third quarter of 2002 compared with 2001, 12 of the 19 major commodity categories tracked by the AAR saw carload gains.
For 2002 through September, U.S. rail intermodal traffic (7,029,342 trailers or containers) is up 5.3 percent (356,845 units) and U.S. rail carload traffic (12,834,502 cars) is down 1.0 percent (124,034 units). “During the third week of September 2002, U.S. freight railroads moved more intermodal freight than during any other week on record, and U.S. intermodal traffic this year is on pace to set an annual record,” Rockey noted.
Total volume for the first 39 weeks of 2002 was estimated 1.114 trillion ton-miles, up 1.0 percent from a year ago.
Canadian intermodal traffic was up 14.8 percent (21,400 units) in September 2002 compared with September 2001, up 15.1 percent (68,594 units) for the third quarter of 2002, and up 9.7 percent (131,648 units) for the first nine months of 2002. Cumulative intermodal volume through 39 weeks totaled 1,488,526 trailers and containers. Canadian carload traffic was down 1.0 percent (2,350 carloads) in September 2002, paced by declines in carloads of grain (down 23.3 percent, or 8,639 carloads) due largely to the effects of severe drought in Western Canada. Carloads of coal were down 7.4 percent (2,555 carloads). On the positive side, Canadian carloads of chemicals were up 11.6 percent (5,665 carloads) in September 2002, while carloads of motor vehicles and equipment were up 7.5 percent (2,222 carloads). For the third quarter of 2002, Canadian carload traffic was down 2.5 percent (19,115 carloads), as declines in grain (down 21.6 percent, or 26,035 carloads), coal (down 8.1 percent, or 8,894 carloads), and farm products excluding grain (down 19.3 percent, or 4,026 carloads) offset increases in chemicals (up 9.7 percent, or 14,515 carloads) and motor vehicles and equipment (up 7.4 percent, or 6,326 carloads). Total year-to-date carloadings for Canadian railroads of 2,321,316 cars were down 2.8 percent (67,916 carloads).
Carloads originated on Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM), a major Mexican railroad, were up 54.5 percent (12,719 carloads) in September, up 21.3 percent (19,728 carloads) in the second quarter, and up 8.2 percent (22,601 carloads) for the year to date. Intermodal originations on TFM were up 48.8 percent (4,683 units) in September, up 28.0 percent (9,666 units) in the second quarter, and up 19.8 percent (18,697 units) for the year to date.
For just the week ended September 28, the AAR reported the following totals for U.S. railroads: 350,946 carloads, down 0.8 percent from the corresponding week in 2001, with loadings down 1.3 percent in the East and down 0.3 percent in the West; intermodal volume of 197,478 trailers and containers, up 1.2 percent; and total volume of an estimated 30.2 billion ton-miles, down 0.3 percent from the equivalent week last year. For Canadian railroads during the week ended September 28, the AAR reported volume of 63,179 carloads, down 0.9 percent from last year; and 43,482 trailers and containers, up 9.3 percent from the corresponding week in 2001. Combined cumulative volume for the first 39 weeks of 2002 on 16 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 15,155,818 carloads, down 1.3 percent (191,950 carloads) from last year; and 8,517,868 trailers and containers, up 6.1 percent (488,493 trailers and containers) from 2001’s first 39 weeks.