AAR: Weekly rail traffic volume highest in more than two years, sixth highest ever

The Association of American Railroads reported that rail traffic for the week ending July 3, 2010 topped comparison weeks from both 2008 and 2009. Carloads were up 18.8 percent, at 286,777 cars, from the comparable week in 2009 and up 0.4 percent from the same week in 2008. Comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008 included the July 4th holiday. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 231,286 trailers and containers, the highest since week 42 of 2008. Volume was up 36.6 percent from a year ago and 19.1 percent from 2008. Container volume of 197,134 was the sixth highest week ever and the highest since week 39 of 2007. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume gained 39.8 percent and trailer volume rose 20.9 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 30.8 percent and trailer volume fell 21.3 percent. Eighteen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, with metallic ores up 205.5 percent; motor vehicles and equipment up 122 percent; metals and metal products up 80.3 percent; and crushed stone, sand and gravel up 50.6 percent. Seven of the commodity groups also posted gains over 2008 levels. Carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 36.8 percent from last year and 5.5 percent from 2008. In the West, carload volume was up 9.5 percent from last year but down 2.7 percent from two years ago. For the first 26 weeks of 2010, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,338,963 carloads, up 7.8 percent from 2009, but down 12.9 percent from 2008, and 5,434,892 trailers or containers, up 12.9 percent from 2009, but down 6.2 percent from 2008. Canadian railroads reported volume of 68,956 cars for the week, up 21.3 percent from last year, and 44,110 trailers or containers, up 22.2 percent from 2009. For the first 26 weeks of 2010, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,880,555 carloads, up 21.4 percent from last year, and 1,184,555 trailers or containers, up 13.8 percent from last year. Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 13,949 cars, up 21.9 percent from the same week last year, and 5,666 trailers or containers, up 21.3 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 26 weeks of 2010 was reported as 360,456 carloads, up 22.9 percent from last year; and 169,717 trailers or containers, up 37.2 percent. Combined North American rail volume for the first 26 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 9,579,974 carloads, up 10.8 percent from last year, and 6,789,164 trailers and containers, up 13.6 percent from last year.