Posted on 01/22/2009 10:15:27 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Rail Freight Traffic Slides During 2nd Week of 2009
WASHINGTON, January 22, 2009 — The economic slowdown continued to affect U.S. railroads as freight volume declined during the second week of 2009 in comparison with same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today.
Carload freight totaled 267,063 cars, down 17.9 percent from 2008, with loadings down 13.2 percent in the West and 24.4 percent in the East. Intermodal volume of 199,117 trailers or containers was off 13.7 percent from last year, with container volume falling 10.2 percent and trailer volume dipping 27.0 percent. Total volume was estimated at 28.3 billion ton-miles, off 16.8 percent from 2008.
All nineteen carload commodity groups were off last week in comparison with last year.
For the first two weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 538,534 carloads, down 17.4 percent from 2008; 403,220 trailers or containers, down 14.0 percent; and total volume of an estimated 57.1 billion ton-miles, down 16.5 percent.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 59,143 cars for the week, down 21.8 percent from last year, and 41,947 trailers or containers, down 16.5 percent. For the first two weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 115,046 carloads, down 24.3 percent from last year; and 84,933 trailers or containers, down 15.l percent.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 10,622 cars, down 7.9 percent from last year's second week, and 4,881 trailers or containers, off 8.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first two weeks of 2009 was reported as 19,594 carloads, down 14.0 percent from last year; and 8,824 trailers or containers, down 16.1 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the two weeks of 2009 on 14 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 673,174 carloads, down 18.9 percent from last year, and 496,977 trailers and containers, down 14.3 percent from last year.
Railroads reporting to AAR account for 89 percent of U.S. carload freight and 98 percent of rail intermodal volume. When the U.S. operations of Canadian railroads are included, the figures increase to 96 percent and 100 percent. The Canadian railroads reporting to the AAR account for 91 percent of Canadian rail traffic. Railroads provide more than 40 percent of U.S. intercity freight transportation, more than any other mode, and rail traffic figures are regarded as an important economic indicator.
AAR is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers.
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