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November’s first full week was a good one for U.S. railroads. During the week ending Nov. 12, they originated 299,591 carloads, up 0.5 percent, and 244,972 containers and trailers, up 5.2 percent compared with volumes from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
 
Ten of 20 carload commodity groups registered gains, including petroleum products (22 percent), metals and products (13.9 percent), and motor vehicles and equipment (13.2 percent). Weekly carload volume was up 1.6 percent for eastern railroads, but down 0.2 percent for western roads.

Automotive and intermodal primarily led traffic growth in week 45, while industrial and chemical carloads slowed, according to Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s weekly “Rail Flash” report. Agricultural product carloads remain a drag on traffic growth, Baird analysts said in the report.

“Broadly, rails continue to expect growth in 2012, benefiting from secular growth opportunities (intermodal, oil and gas), and recovering end markets (industrial, auto),” they said.
 
Canadian railroads reported weekly carloads totaling 76,106, down 2 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 49,461 units, down 0.4 percent year over year. For the week ending Nov. 12, Mexican railroads increased carloads 4 percent to 14,718 units and boosted intermodal volume 14.5 percent to 8,678 units.
 
Through 2011’s first 45 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 17.2 million carloads, up 2.1 percent, and 12.9 million containers and trailers, up 5 percent versus last year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Nov. 12 and through 45 weeks, follow this link.