Written by: William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief The Association of American Railroads (AAR), in reporting rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 21, 2017, noted that business picked up considerably. Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 530,299 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.1% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week were 262,496, up 10.7% compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 267,803 containers and trailers, up 5.8% compared to 2016. Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They included coal, up 22.4% to 90,786 carloads; grain, up 16.3% to 24,485; and miscellaneous carloads, up 12.7% to 10,052. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 were petroleum and petroleum products, down 17.7% to 10,217 carloads; and forest products, down 5% to 9,726 carloads. For the first three weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 736,865 carloads, up 2.5% from the same point last year; and 751,080 intermodal units, down 3.2%. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first three weeks of 2017 was 1,487,945 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 0.5%. North American rail volume for the week on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 359,088 carloads, up 11% compared with the same week last year, and 342,843 intermodal units, up 5.8%. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 701,931 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.4%. North American rail volume for the first three weeks of 2017 was 1,961,848 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.2% compared with 2016. Canadian railroads reported 79,951 carloads for the week, up 16.2%, and 63,635 intermodal units, up 7.2%. For the first three weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 400,755 carloads, containers and trailers, up 4.9%. Mexican railroads reported 16,641 carloads for the week, down 4.5% compared with the same week last year, and 11,405 intermodal units, down 0.9%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first three weeks of 2017 was 73,148 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 10.5%. In related news, AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger released a statement on Jan. 24 actions taken by the Trump Administration regarding infrastructure and permitting: “The freight rail industry applauds the overall efforts of the Trump Administration to improve America’s infrastructure and streamline our inefficient permitting process. As a key component of an integrated transportation system that together moves 54 tons of goods per American each year, we understand that U.S. commerce depends on the efficient movement of goods. “Yet we also know too well how time consuming, costly and, at times, redundant it can be to fully implement an infrastructure project. From delays to double-track in the West to necessary terminal and tunnel expansion in the East, the freight rail industry continually feels the brunt of inefficient government processes. This, despite the fact that privately owned freight railroads invest in their own projects, which offer cost-effective options for American industry, take cars and trucks off the road and reduce burdens on public infrastructure. “We look forward to a more sensible process whereby we can improve upon what we already do best: move the American economy through private investments.” Continue reading...
