Written by: Stuart Chirls, Senior Editor The Association of American Railroads reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 19 was 554,021 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.4% from the same week a year ago. Total volume was 271,675 carloads, up 0.8%, while intermodal volume was 282,346 containers and trailers, up 8.2%. AAR said five of the 10 tracked carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They included coal, 9.4%; nonmetallic minerals, 8.7%, and metallic ores and metals, 10.2% Commodities that declined from a year ago included grain, 28.2%; motor vehicles and parts, 12.4%, and petroleum and petroleum products, 14.4%. For the first 33 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,531,930 carloads, up 5%, and 8,795,422 intermodal units, up 3.4%. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 33 weeks of 2017 was 17,327,352 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.2%. North American rail volume for the week ending August 19 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 365,373 carloads, up 2.6%, and 366,508 intermodal units, up 9.2%. Total combined weekly rail traffic was 731,881 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.8%. Volume for the first 33 weeks of 2017 was 22,938,512 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.4% on 2016 levels. Canadian railroads reported 78,029 carloads for the week, up 10.3%, and 71,726 intermodal units, up 14.1%. For the first 33 weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 4,718,534 carloads, containers and trailers, up 11.5%. Mexican railroads reported 15,669 carloads for the week, down 0.8%, and 12,436 intermodal units, up 6.3%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 33 weeks of 2017 was 892,626 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, essentially flat on-year. Continue reading...
