AAR: Carload traffic, intermodal gain

U.S. carload freight traffic rose 9.6% during the week ending October 23 over the comparable week in 2009, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday. Intermodal traffic also rose for the week, up 13.6% compared with the same week a year ago. Container volume grew 14.6%; trailer volume increased 8.2%.

AAR said 16 of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, with metallic ores continuing to post the most significant gain, up 263.5%. Commodity groups posting declines included non-metallic minerals, down 17.9%, and grain mill products, down 4.%.

Canadian carload freight volume rose 5.4% for the week compared with last year, while intermodal rose 12.6%. Mexico’s two major railroads reported carload freight traffic rose 9.4% from the same week last year, with intermodal up 10.%.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 42 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads was up 9.8% from last year, while intermodal advance 15.1%.