Posted on 12/04/2009 6:00:16 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
U.S. Rail Freight Volume Down During Thanksgiving Holiday Week
3 Dec 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact: AAR Communications
Holly Arthur 202-639-2100
harthur@aar.org
U.S. Rail Freight Volume Down During Thanksgiving Holiday Week
Increases Seen in Nine Freight Commodity Groups
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 3, 2009 – The Association of American Railroads today reported that freight rail traffic was down for the Thanksgiving holiday week ended Nov. 28, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 246,133 carloads for the week, down 3.9 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 29.3 percent from the same week in 2007. The comparison week from 2008 included the Thanksgiving Holiday, while the 2007 comparison week did not. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR will now be reporting 2009 weekly rail traffic with year over year comparisons for both 2008 and 2007.
In the Western U.S., carloads were down 3.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 23.9 percent compared with 2007. In the East, carloads were down 4.3 percent compared with 2008, and 37.3 percent compared with the same week in 2007.
Intermodal traffic totaled 165,856 trailers and containers, down 6.4 percent from a year ago and 32.1 percent from 2007. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume dropped 0.9 percent and trailer volume dropped 27.2 percent. Compared with the same week in 2007, container volume fell 26.2 percent and trailer volume dropped 51.9 percent.
While 10 of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year, increases were seen in nonmetallic minerals (38.1 percent), grain (21.3 percent), farm products not including grain (20.1 percent), motor vehicles and equipment (15 percent), chemicals (13.2 percent), grain mill products (11.5 percent), metals and products (11.2 percent), metallic ores (3.1 percent) and petroleum products (2.2 percent). Declines in commodity groups ranged from 0.9 percent for crushed stone, sand and gravel to 28.3 percent for coke.
Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending Nov. 28, 2009 was estimated at 27.6 billion ton-miles, down 3.8 percent compared with the same week last year and down 25 percent from 2007.
For the first 47 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 12,571,696 carloads, down 17.1 percent from 2008 and 18.2 percent from 2007; 8,967,824 trailers or containers, down 15.5 percent from 2008 and 18.3 percent from 2007, and total volume of an estimated 1.35 trillion ton-miles, down 16.2 percent from 2008 and 16.7 percent from 2007.
Canadian railroads reported volume of 69,216 cars for the week, down 3.8 percent from last year, and 42,123 trailers or containers, down 7.5 percent from 2008. For the first 47 weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,941,470 carloads, down 19.6 percent from last year, and 1,933,397 trailers or containers, down 15.2 percent from last year.
Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 12,760 cars, down 1.7 percent from the same week last year, and 7,602 trailers or containers, up 24.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 47 weeks of 2009 was reported as 543,328 carloads, down 11.2 percent from last year; and 258,955 trailers or containers, down 15.2 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first 47 weeks of 2009 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 16,056,494 carloads, down 17.4 percent from last year, and 11,160,176 trailers and containers, down 15.4 percent from last year.
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Editors’ Note: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads, or Class I railroads, of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Class I railroads represent 67 percent of the U.S. freight rail mileage and 90 percent of freight railroad industry employees. Railroads account for 43 percent of intercity freight volume — more than any other mode of transportation. AAR’s Rail Time Indicators report and video summary are available on the AAR web site: www.aar.org. A widget social-media tool, which allows users to share the material by uploading it to Web sites, blogs, or online network profiles, is also available.
Ping!
But Warren Buffet has purchased rail.
Jenny Granholm is pushing light rail here in Michigan.
Rail frieght down, total jobs down, but unemployment rate also down? New math, I guess!
I watched a youtube video on inflation last night, said Cash for Clunkers was a chinese idea/deal, because they wouldn’t accept dollars for payment but would accept metal from us...anyone know anything about this?
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