The overall improved trend for U.S. freight rail traffic solidified during the week ending April 26, 2014, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, May 1, while North America’s two other large nations contributed to the good freight rail news as well.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on April 10, 2014 reported increased U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 5, 2014 with 296,039 total U.S. carloads, up 5.4% compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 261,084 units, up 12.6% compared with the same week last year. Total combined U.S. weekly rail traffic was 557,123 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.7% compared with the same week last year.
On March 25-26, 2014, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) will hold a public hearing on a petition by the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) to modify STB’s standards for mandatory competitive switching. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has sent a bipartisan letter to STB Chairman Dan Elliot and Vice Chairman Ann Begeman indirectly urging them to consider the consequences for railroads should the Board accept NITL’s proposal, and strongly voicing the Committee’s intent to oppose such a policy change.