(The Association of American Railroads issued the following on August 24.)
WASHINGTON — Both intermodal and carload freight registered gains during the week ended August 19 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Intermodal volume of 248,890 trailers or containers was up 4.8 percent from the comparable week last year. Container volume was up 7.0 percent while trailer volume was off 2.2 percent.
Carload freight totaled 342,328 cars, up 1.0 percent from last year, with loadings up 2.4 percent in the West but off 0.7 percent in the East.
Total volume was estimated at 34.5 billion ton-miles, up 2.7 percent from 2005.
Among individual carload commodities, grain was up 13.4 percent from last year, metals rose 10.1 percent and coal loadings gained 5.8 percent. On the downside, coke was down 20.6 percent, primary forest products were off 15.3 percent and lumber fell 12.3 percent. Overall, 11 of 19 commodity groups were down from a year ago.
Cumulative volume for the first 33 weeks of 2006 totaled 11,094,992 carloads, up 1.5 percent from 2005; 7,708,423 trailers or containers, up 6.4 percent; and total volume of an estimated 1.10 trillion ton-miles, up 2.7 percent from last year.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended August 19 carload traffic totaled 77,903 cars, up 3.2 percent from last year while intermodal volume of 47,427 trailers or containers was up 7.3 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 33 weeks of 2006 on the Canadian railroads totaled 2,451,448 carloads, down 1.3 percent from last year, and 1,478,249 trailers and containers, up 6.0 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 33 weeks of 2006 on 13 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 13,546,440 carloads, up 0.9 percent from last year and 9,186,672 trailers and containers, up 6.3 percent from last year.
The AAR also said that during the week ended August 19 Mexican railroad Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) reported total carload volume of 11,603 cars, up 0.4 percent from last year. KCSM reported total intermodal volume of 4,576 trailers or containers, up 14.3 percent from the 33rd week of 2005.
For the first 33 weeks of 2006, KCSM reported total cumulative volume of 371,700 cars, down 5.2 percent from last year, and 128,584 trailers or containers, down 5.7 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.