AAR reports decrease in weekly rail traffic

Combined North American rail volume for 2012 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 354,124 carloads, down 4.1 percent compared to last year, and 241,259 trailers and containers, down 8.8 percent compared with last year.

The Trucker News Services

1/17/2012

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported a decrease in weekly rail traffic for the week ending January 7, with U.S. railroads originating 274,862 carloads, down 3.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 193,812 trailers and containers, down 9.3 percent compared with the same week last year.

Five of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2011, with metallic ores, up 29.2 percent, having the greatest gain. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 20 percent; farm products excluding grain, down 18.5 percent, and iron and steel scrap, down 17 percent.

Weekly carload volume on Eastern railroads was down 13.8 percent compared with the same week last year. In the West, weekly carload volume was up 2.7 percent compared with the same week in 2011.

For the first week of 2012, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 274,862 carloads, down 3.7 percent from last year, and 193,812 trailers and containers, down 9.3 percent from last year.

Canadian railroads reported 68,405 carloads for the week, down 3.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 40,281 trailers and containers, down 9.8 percent compared with 2011. For 2012, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 68,405 carloads, down 3.6 percent from the same point last year, and 40,281 trailers and containers, down 9.8 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 10,857 carloads for the week, down 15.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 7,166 trailers and containers, up 16.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for 2012 is 10,857 carloads, down 15.2 percent compared to last year, and 7,166 trailers and containers, up 16.5 percent.

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