AAR Reports Rail Traffic Up in First Week of 2011

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported rail traffic was up for the first week in 2011 ending Jan. 8, with U.S. freight railroads originating 285,108 carloads, up 20.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal traffic for the week totaled 213,665 trailers and containers, up 8.6 percent compared with the same week in 2010, with container volume up 10 percent and trailer volume up 1 percent. Several changes to the carload commodity groups took effect this week including the addition of two new groups, Iron and Steel Scrap (Group 18) and Waste and Nonferrous Scrap (Group 19). Canadian railroads reported volume of 70,742 cars for the week, up 5.4 percent from last year, and 44,314 trailers or containers, up 3.4 percent from 2010. Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 12,959 cars, down 1.1 percent from the same week last year, and 6,059 trailers or containers, up 2.9 percent from 2010. Combined North American rail volume for the first week of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 368,809 carloads, up 16.1 percent from last year, and 264,038 trailers and containers, up 7.5 percent from 2010.