(The Association of American Railroads posted the following article on its website on August 5.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. railroads originated 1,299,916 carloads of freight in July 2004, up 1.0 percent (12,255 carloads) over July 2003, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. U.S. rail intermodal traffic, which is not included in carload figures, totaled 837,317 trailers and containers in July 2004, up 7.5 percent (58,494 units) compared to July 2003.
U.S. railroads originated 516,259 carloads of coal in July 2004, up 2.1 percent (10,811 carloads) over July 2003. Other commodities showing carload gains in July included metallic ores (62,652 carloads, up 9.2 percent or 5,263 carloads); nonmetallic minerals (33,749 carloads, up 15.9 percent or 4,642 carloads); and metals and metal products (54,914 carloads, up 8.6 percent or 4,359 carloads. Carloads of chemicals totaled 118,853 in July 2004, up 2.9 percent (3,394 carloads) over 2003.
Commodities showing declines in U.S. rail carloadings in July included motor vehicles and equipment (59,644 carloads, down 9.2 percent or 6,029 carloads) and crushed stone and gravel (85,758 carloads, down 6.0 percent or 5,482 carloads). Carloads of grain totaled 78,488 in July 2004, down 5.8 percent (4,867 carloads) from last year.
For the first seven months of 2004, total U.S. rail carloadings of 10,021,686 were up 3.6 percent (347,774 carloads). Coal carloads during this period totaled 3,926,394, up 3.0 percent (114,816 carloads) and equal to 39 percent of total carloads. In 2004 through July, carloads of grain totaled 656,095, up 9.6 percent (57,540 carloads), while carloads of chemicals totaled 908,590, up 5.2 percent (44,637 carloads). Carloads of motor vehicles and equipment totaled 690,202 in 2004 through July, down 2.5 percent (17,432 carloads) from last year. Of the 19 commodity categories tracked by the AAR, 12 had carload gains in the first seven months of 2004 compared to the comparable period in 2003.
U.S. intermodal traffic in 2004 through July totaled 6,172,396 trailers and containers, up 9.3 percent (527,509 units) over 2003.
Total volume through the first 30 weeks of 2004 was estimated at 904.7 billion ton-miles, up 4.8 percent from last year.
“U.S. rail traffic growth remains good, reflecting the economic gains we’re experiencing across a variety of industry sectors,” noted AAR Vice President Craig F. Rockey. “Because the 4th of July holiday is included in July 2004 figures but not in July 2003 data, reported U.S. carload growth of 1.0 percent in July 2004 understates the traffic gains. Moreover, the top two (and three of the top eight) intermodal weeks in history occurred this past month. The bottom line is that railroads are moving tremendous amounts of traffic right now, probably more than ever before.”
Canadian rail carload traffic (which includes the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads) was up 7.8 percent (18,367 carloads) in July 2004 to 254,568 units. Commodities that saw rail carload gains in July included chemicals (54,791 carloads, up 9.1 percent or 4,580 carloads) and grain (35,900 carloads, up 14.3 percent or 4,505 carloads). Canadian intermodal traffic totaled 168,141 trailers and containers in July 2004, down 2.9 percent (4,938 units) over July 2003.
For the first seven months of 2004, Canadian carload traffic totaled 2,006,764 units, up 8.7 percent (160,615 carloads), while Canadian intermodal traffic was down 0.2 percent (2,982 units) to 1,242,724 trailers and containers.
Carloads originated on Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM), a major Mexican railroad, were up 2.9 percent (899 carloads) in July 2004 to 32,236 carloads, while intermodal originations of 13,097 units were down 0.3 percent (43 trailers and containers). For the first seven months of 2004, TFM carloadings of 255,213 units were down 0.9 percent (2,296 carloads), while intermodal traffic fell 0.5 percent (493 units) to 106,990 trailers and containers.
For just the week ended July 31, the AAR reported the following totals for U.S. railroads: 346,565 carloads, up 4.0 percent from the corresponding week in 2003, with loadings essentially flat in the East and up 7.3 percent in the West; intermodal volume of 221,249 trailers and containers (the highest weekly total ever, breaking the record set the week ending July 24, 2004), up 11.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 31.3 billion ton-miles, up 4.7 percent from the equivalent week last year.
For Canadian railroads during the week ended July 31, the AAR reported volume of 65,464 carloads, up 8.6 percent from last year; and 41,350 trailers and containers, down 4.9 percent from the corresponding week in 2003.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 30 weeks of 2004 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 12,028,450 carloads, up 4.4 percent (508,389 carloads) from last year, and 7,415,120 trailers and containers, up 7.6 percent (524,527 units) from 2003’s first 30 weeks. Rail Traffic Up in July
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2004 Å U.S. railroads originated 1,299,916 carloads of freight in July 2004, up 1.0 percent (12,255 carloads) over July 2003, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. U.S. rail intermodal traffic, which is not included in carload figures, totaled 837,317 trailers and containers in July 2004, up 7.5 percent (58,494 units) compared to July 2003.
U.S. railroads originated 516,259 carloads of coal in July 2004, up 2.1 percent (10,811 carloads) over July 2003. Other commodities showing carload gains in July included metallic ores (62,652 carloads, up 9.2 percent or 5,263 carloads); nonmetallic minerals (33,749 carloads, up 15.9 percent or 4,642 carloads); and metals and metal products (54,914 carloads, up 8.6 percent or 4,359 carloads. Carloads of chemicals totaled 118,853 in July 2004, up 2.9 percent (3,394 carloads) over 2003.
Commodities showing declines in U.S. rail carloadings in July included motor vehicles and equipment (59,644 carloads, down 9.2 percent or 6,029 carloads) and crushed stone and gravel (85,758 carloads, down 6.0 percent or 5,482 carloads). Carloads of grain totaled 78,488 in July 2004, down 5.8 percent (4,867 carloads) from last year.
For the first seven months of 2004, total U.S. rail carloadings of 10,021,686 were up 3.6 percent (347,774 carloads). Coal carloads during this period totaled 3,926,394, up 3.0 percent (114,816 carloads) and equal to 39 percent of total carloads. In 2004 through July, carloads of grain totaled 656,095, up 9.6 percent (57,540 carloads), while carloads of chemicals totaled 908,590, up 5.2 percent (44,637 carloads). Carloads of motor vehicles and equipment totaled 690,202 in 2004 through July, down 2.5 percent (17,432 carloads) from last year. Of the 19 commodity categories tracked by the AAR, 12 had carload gains in the first seven months of 2004 compared to the comparable period in 2003.
U.S. intermodal traffic in 2004 through July totaled 6,172,396 trailers and containers, up 9.3 percent (527,509 units) over 2003.
Total volume through the first 30 weeks of 2004 was estimated at 904.7 billion ton-miles, up 4.8 percent from last year.
“U.S. rail traffic growth remains good, reflecting the economic gains we’re experiencing across a variety of industry sectors,” noted AAR Vice President Craig F. Rockey. “Because the 4th of July holiday is included in July 2004 figures but not in July 2003 data, reported U.S. carload growth of 1.0 percent in July 2004 understates the traffic gains. Moreover, the top two (and three of the top eight) intermodal weeks in history occurred this past month. The bottom line is that railroads are moving tremendous amounts of traffic right now, probably more than ever before.”
Canadian rail carload traffic (which includes the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads) was up 7.8 percent (18,367 carloads) in July 2004 to 254,568 units. Commodities that saw rail carload gains in July included chemicals (54,791 carloads, up 9.1 percent or 4,580 carloads) and grain (35,900 carloads, up 14.3 percent or 4,505 carloads). Canadian intermodal traffic totaled 168,141 trailers and containers in July 2004, down 2.9 percent (4,938 units) over July 2003.
For the first seven months of 2004, Canadian carload traffic totaled 2,006,764 units, up 8.7 percent (160,615 carloads), while Canadian intermodal traffic was down 0.2 percent (2,982 units) to 1,242,724 trailers and containers.
Carloads originated on Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM), a major Mexican railroad, were up 2.9 percent (899 carloads) in July 2004 to 32,236 carloads, while intermodal originations of 13,097 units were down 0.3 percent (43 trailers and containers). For the first seven months of 2004, TFM carloadings of 255,213 units were down 0.9 percent (2,296 carloads), while intermodal traffic fell 0.5 percent (493 units) to 106,990 trailers and containers.
For just the week ended July 31, the AAR reported the following totals for U.S. railroads: 346,565 carloads, up 4.0 percent from the corresponding week in 2003, with loadings essentially flat in the East and up 7.3 percent in the West; intermodal volume of 221,249 trailers and containers (the highest weekly total ever, breaking the record set the week ending July 24, 2004), up 11.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 31.3 billion ton-miles, up 4.7 percent from the equivalent week last year.
For Canadian railroads during the week ended July 31, the AAR reported volume of 65,464 carloads, up 8.6 percent from last year; and 41,350 trailers and containers, down 4.9 percent from the corresponding week in 2003.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 30 weeks of 2004 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 12,028,450 carloads, up 4.4 percent (508,389 carloads) from last year, and 7,415,120 trailers and containers, up 7.6 percent (524,527 units) from 2003’s first 30 weeks.