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U.S. railroads continued to boost traffic volumes through mid-June. They set a second-straight weekly high for U.S. intermodal volume to boot. During the week ending June 18, the roads originated 294,310 carloads, up 3.3 percent, and 237,682 intermodal loads, up 4.3 percent compared with volumes from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
 
Sixteen of 20 carload commodity groups registered gains. The latest weekly figures show a continuation of steady traffic growth, but coal carloads — which are down 2 percent so far in the second quarter — remain the primary drag on overall traffic growth, said Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. analysts in their weekly “Rail Flash” report.

“Carload volumes excluding coal grew 3 percent in the second quarter to date,” they said, adding that intermodal remained solid with a 7 percent year-over-year gain so far in the second quarter.
 
Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly carloads totaling 79,077, up 7.2 percent, and intermodal volume totaling 47,925 containers and trailers, down 4 percent year over year. Mexican railroads’ weekly carloads rose 4.5 percent to 16,307 units and intermodal volume climbed 25.7 percent to 9,065 units.
 
Through 2011’s first 24 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 9.1 million carloads, up 2.8 percent, and 6.7 million containers and trailers, up 7.3 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending June 18 and through 24 weeks, follow this link.


[ANGELA-HERE IS THE LINK TO THE AAR RELEASE-YOU CAN USE IT TO DOUBLE-CHECK DATA:
http://www.aar.org/NewsAndEvents/Freight-Rail-Traffic/2011/06/23-railtraffic.aspx]