(The Association of American Railroads posted the following news release on its website on May 27.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Intermodal freight on U.S. railroads set a weekly record during the week ended May 22, breaking the mark that was set just four weeks earlier, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Intermodal volume of 218,206 trailers and containers was 14.4 percent ahead of the corresponding week last year and 2.3 percent above the 213,104 moved during the week ended April 24 when the previous record was set. Trailer traffic was up 15.9 percent while container volume showed a 14.4 percent gain.
Carload freight, which doesn’t include the intermodal data, totaled 344,091 units, up 4.0 percent from last year. Total volume was estimated at 31.3 billion ton-miles, up 4.3 percent from the corresponding week last year.
Twelve of 19 carload commodity groups showed gains from last year, with coke, up 23.3 percent from last year; metallic ores up 18.4 percent; grain up 15.7 percent; and chemicals up 13.0 percent. Among commodities registering declines were grain mill products, off 10.8 percent, and pulp, paper and allied products, down 6.0 percent.
The AAR also reported the following cumulative totals for U.S. railroads during the first 20 weeks of 2004: 6,687,421 carloads, up 3.4 percent from last year; intermodal volume of 4,056,525 trailers or containers, up 8.2 percent; and total volume of an estimated 602.7 billion ton-miles, up 4.8 percent from last year’s first 20 weeks.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended May 22 carload traffic totaled 71,262 cars, up 18.6 percent from last year, with agricultural products up 48.8 percent and chemicals up 31.9 percent. Intermodal traffic totaled 44,544 trailers or containers, up 13.5 percent from last year. The year-ago week included the Victoria Day national holiday; this year’s week did not.
Cumulative originations for the first 20 weeks of 2004 on the Canadian railroads totaled 1,360,695 carloads, up 8.1 percent from last year, and 822,758 trailers and containers, up 0.3 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 20 weeks of 2004 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 7,632,763 carloads, up 4.1 percent from last year and 4,616,533 trailers and containers, up 6.4 percent from last year.
The AAR also reported that originated carload freight on the Mexican railroad Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM) during the week ended May 22 totaled 8,396 cars, down 3.7 percent from last year. TFM reported intermodal volume of 2,657 originated trailers or containers, down 32.0 percent from the 20th week of 2003. For the first 20 weeks of 2004, TFM reported cumulative originated volume of 166,907 cars, down 4.7 percent from last year, and 63,874 trailers or containers, down 12.2 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.