Rails still suck

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 8, 2009 — The Association of American Railroads today reported that for the week ended Oct. 3, 2009, rail traffic continues to reflect the down economy – originating 277,734 carloads, down 17.2 percent compared with the same week in 2008. All of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from the same week last year, with declines ranging from 2.7 percent for chemicals to 53.2 percent for metallic ores.

Intermodal traffic of 206,293 trailers or containers on U.S. railroads was down 15.7 percent from the same week last year. Container volume fell 10 percent and trailer volume dropped 37 percent.

Regionally, carloads were down 16.4 percent in the West and 18.3 percent in the East. For the first 39 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,381,905 carloads, down 18.1 percent from 2008; 7,347,299 trailers or containers, down 16.8 percent, and total volume of an estimated 1.11 trillion ton-miles, down 17.3 percent. Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending October 3 was estimated at 29.7 billion ton-miles, off 16.6 percent from the same week last year.

Canadian railroads reported volume of 73,377 cars for the week, down 7.3 percent from last year, and 43,724 trailers or containers, down 15.6 percent. For the first 39 weeks of 2009, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,377,796 carloads, down 22.2 percent from last year, and 1,588,814 trailers or containers, down 16.2 percent.

Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 12,597 cars, down 0.9 percent from the same week last year, and 7,593 trailers or containers, down 3.4 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 39 weeks of 2009 was reported as 444,633 carloads, down 13.6 percent from last year; and 203,526 trailers or containers, down 18.2 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 39 weeks of 2009 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 13,204,334 carloads, down 18.8 percent from last year, and 9,139,639 trailers and containers, down 16.7 percent from last year.

(This is now 'easy' yoy comparisons, too!)