(The Association of American Railroads issued the following news release on May 13.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. railroads reported solid gains in freight traffic during the week ended May 8 in comparison with the corresponding week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported.
In spite of disruptions at some West Coast locations, intermodal traffic totaled 210,909 cars, up 7.7 percent from last year and the fourth busiest intermodal week ever. Trailer traffic was up 14.1 percent while container volume showed a 5.5 percent gain.
Carload freight, which doesn’t include the intermodal data, totaled 337,681 units, up 3.9 percent from last year. Total volume was estimated at 30.8 billion ton-miles, up 6.2 percent from the corresponding week last year.
Thirteen of 19 carload commodity groups were up from last year with metals up 18.8 percent; grain rising 17.5 percent; chemicals showing a 10.5 percent gain; and coal up 5.3 percent. Sharp decreases were reported in loadings of metallic ores, down 21.3 percent, and primary forest products, off 8.9 percent.
The AAR also reported the following cumulative totals for U.S. railroads during the first 18 weeks of 2004: 5,996,077 carloads, up 3.3 percent from last year; intermodal volume of 3,628,034 trailers or containers, up 7.9 percent; and total volume of an estimated 539.8 billion ton-miles, up 4.8 percent from last year’s first 18 weeks.
On Canadian railroads, during the week ended May 8 carload traffic totaled 71,661 cars, up 12.5 percent from last year, with agricultural products up 41.5 percent. Intermodal traffic totaled 44,757 trailers or containers, up 0.7 percent from last year.
Cumulative originations for the first 18 weeks of 2004 on the Canadian railroads totaled 1,219,857 carloads, up 7.4 percent from last year, and 734,175 trailers and containers, down 0.3 percent from last year.
Combined cumulative volume for the first 18 weeks of 2004 on 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 7,215,934 carloads, up 4.0 percent from last year and 4,362,209 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 8 totaled 8,115 cars, down 4.1 percent from last year. TFM reported intermodal volume of 2,575 originated trailers or containers, down 36.1 percent from the 18th week of 2003. For the first 18 weeks of 2004, TFM reported cumulative originated volume of 150,289 cars, down 4.6 percent from last year, and 58,672 trailers or containers, down 10.0 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.