Rail traffic at 2010 weekly high, but still lags 2008
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief The Association of American Railroads announced that U.S. railroads reported the highest traffic levels of 2010 for both carload and intermodal traffic for the week ending July 31, up 9.4% the from same week in 2009 but down 10.65% from the same week in 2008. U.S railroads originated 300,292 carloads for the week, and intermodal traffic totaled 232,895 trailers and containers,
Eighteen of the 19 carload commodity groups were up from 2009 with only waste and scrap, down 1.9%, showing a decline. Metallic ores, up 73%, and metals and products, up 35.2%, posted the most significant increases. In comparison to 2008, all 19 commodity groups posted declines.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 73,858 cars for the week, up 17.3% from last year, and 50,967 trailers or containers, up 21.6%.
Mexican railroads originated 14,282 carloads, up 23.4% percent, and 6,848 trailers or containers, up 23.1%
Combined North American rail volume for the first 30 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 11,040,572 carloads, up 10.2% from last year, and 7,892,484 trailers and containers, up 14.15%.
