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Severe flooding in Tennessee and Georgia that halted freight trains for three days last week served as a drag on U.S. railroads’ traffic. During the week ending Sept. 26, their originated carloads fell 17.1 percent to 271,659 units and intermodal volume dropped 16.5 percent to 205,627 units compared with traffic from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Regionally, carloads declined 19.3 percent in the East and 15.5 percent in the West.

Canadian railroads had a tough week, as well. Their originated carloads tumbled 15.1 percent to 69,342 units and intermodal loads decreased 13.8 percent to 44,838 units. Mexican railroads reported originated carloads totaling 11,782 units, down 8.9 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 6,636 units, down 13.9 percent.

For more AAR data on North American railroads' traffic for the week ending Sept. 26 and through 2009's first 38 weeks, follow this link.