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October’s second full week wasn’t as good for U.S. railroads as the first. During the week ending Oct. 15, they originated 303,363 carloads, which was essentially flat compared with volume from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). However, their intermodal volume rose 3 percent to 244,389 units.
 
Eleven of 20 carload commodity groups posted gains, led by metallic ores (28.1 percent), metals and products (18 percent) and petroleum products (17.2 percent). Grain traffic fell 14.8 percent and waste/nonferrous scrap traffic declined 9.5 percent.

Agricultural products volume remained pressured, tumbling 6 percent, according to Robert W. Baird & Co Inc.’s weekly “Rail Flash” report. The key fall grain harvest — including corn, wheat and soybeans — now is expected to decline 3 percent year over year versus a previously estimated 2 percent drop, Baird analysts said in the report.
 
Canadian railroads reported weekly carloads totaling 80,248, up 2.9 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 48,076 units, down 1.4 percent year over year. During the week ending Oct. 15, Mexican railroads’ carloads dipped 2.4 percent to 14,155 units and intermodal volume decreased 3.1 percent to 7,905 units.
 
Through 2011’s first 41 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 15.6 million carloads, up 2.1 percent, and 11.7 million containers and trailers, up 5.1 percent compared with the same 2010 period.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Oct. 15 and through 41 weeks, follow this link.