Rail News

North American Railroads Reported Mixed Traffic in Early January

January 18th, 2013

Major U.S. railroads originated 279,893 carloads in the week ending Jan. 12, down 6.4% compared with the same week last year, according to figures released by the Association of American Railroads. Intermodal volume was up 10.4% versus the same week last year, at 252,896 trailers and containers.

Short lines’ intermodal traffic was up 54.28% in the week, compared with the same week in 2012, at 20,180 carloads. Other traffic was also up, increasing 3.6% to 120,962.

The AAR said 13 of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, led by petroleum products, up 47.7%; crushed stone, sand and gravel, up 17.5%; and lumber and wood products, up 15.5%. The groups showing a decrease in weekly traffic included iron and steel scrap, down 22.1%; metallic ores, down 18.6%; and coal, down 16%.

Canadian railroads reported 75,982 carloads for the week, down 1.1% compared with the same week last year, and 53,908 trailers and containers, up 7.8% compared with 2012. Mexican railroads reported 14,539 carloads for the week, jumping 19.6% compared with the same week last year, and 9,355 trailers and containers, up 6.1%.

For further details, consult the AAR’s weekly rail traffic charts and RMI’s RailConnect Index of Short Line Traffic.

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