AAR: Freight traffic up at year end, entire year

U.S. freight carload traffic for the final week of 2010, ending Jan. 1, 2011, was up 5.6% from the comparable week in 2009, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday. U.S. intermodal traffic for the same week rose 11.9% over one year ago.

For the full 52 weeks of 2010, U.S. freight carload traffic rose 7.3% from 2009, though still trailing 2008’s total by 10%. U.S. intermodal traffic for 2010 was up 14.2% from 2009 levels, and down just 1.9% from 2008. (A complete summary of the annual rail traffic data will be included in the January 2011 Rail Time Indicators report which will be released by AAR on Monday, January 10.)

“Rail traffic growth in 2010 is clearly a positive development, and reflects a growing economy as well as solid, dependable service on the part of the railroads,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “However, this growth is certainly slower than any of us would like, and rail traffic still has a long way to go to full recovery.”

Canadian freight carload traffic for 2010’s final week rose 7% from the comparable week in 2009, while Canadian intermodal advanced 4.4%. For the full 52 weeks of 2010, Canadian freight carload traffic rose 16.7%, while intermodal gained 15.6%.

Mexican freight carload traffic for 2010’s final week was up 42% from the same week in 2009, while intermodal gained 32.2%. For the full 52 weeks of 2010, Mexican freight carload traffic rose 18.5%, while intermodal notched a 22.4% rise.

Combined North American freight carload traffic for the full 52 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads was up 9.4% from 2009, while intermodal gained 14.7% from 2009.