AAR Reports Gains in Weekly Rail Traffic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 17, 2011 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported gains in weekly rail traffic, with U.S. railroads originating 299,591 carloads for the week ending Nov. 12, 2011, up 0.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 244,972 trailers and containers, up 5.2 percent compared with the same week last year.

Ten of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2010, including: petroleum products, up 22 percent; metals and products, up 13.9 percent, and motor vehicles and equipment, up 13.2 percent. The groups showing a significant decrease in weekly traffic included: grain, down 18.3 percent, and primary forest products, down 11.4 percent.

Weekly carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 1.6 percent compared with the same week last year. In the West, weekly carload volume was down 0.2 percent compared with the same week in 2010.

For the first 45 weeks of 2011, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 13,142,833 carloads, up 1.8 percent from the same point last year, and 10,340,944 trailers and containers, up 5.2 percent from last year.

Canadian railroads reported 76,106 carloads for the week, down 2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 49,461 trailers and containers, down 0.4 percent compared with 2010. For the first 45 weeks of 2011, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,399,201 carloads, up 2.9 percent from the same point last year, and 2,176,054 trailers and containers, up 1.6 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 14,718 carloads for the week, up 4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 8,678 trailers and containers, up 14.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 45 weeks of 2011 was 643,725 carloads, up 4.1 percent compared with the same point last year, and 373,993 trailers and containers, up 22 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 45 weeks of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 17,185,759 carloads, up 2.1 percent compared with the same point last year, and 12,890,991 trailers and containers, up 5 percent compared with last year.