The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported steady results in weekly rail traffic with U.S. railroads originating 294,271 carloads for the week ending May 14, 2011, up 1.6 percent compared with the same week last year.  Intermodal volume for the week totaled 231,875 trailers and containers, up 6.3 percent compared with the same week in 2010.

Ten of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010. Commodity groups posting significant increases included: metallic ores, up 17.5 percent; metals and products, up 17.2 percent, and grain, up 14.2 percent. Groups posting a notable decrease included: waste and nonferrous scrap, down 16.9 percent; primary forest products, down 13.6 percent, and farm products excluding grain, down 13 percent.

Weekly carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 1 percent compared with the same week last year. In the West, weekly carload volume was up 2.1 percent compared with the same week in 2010.

For the first 19 weeks of 2011, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,527,357 carloads, up 3.3 percent from last year, and 4,234,798 trailers and containers, up 8.8 percent from the same point in 2010.

Canadian railroads reported 76,167 carloads for the week, up 4.5 percent from last year, and 49,021 trailers and containers, up 1.1 percent from 2010. For the first 19 weeks of 2011, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,396,132 carloads, up 1.1 percent from the same point last year, and 877,994 trailers and containers, up 3.7 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 13,770 carloads for the week, flat compared with the same week last year, and 8,201 trailers and containers, up 22.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 19 weeks of 2011 was 273,200 carloads, up 7.1 percent compared with the same point last year, and 136,262 trailers and containers, up 11.7 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 19 weeks of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 7,196,689 carloads, up 3 percent compared with the same point last year, and 5,249,054 trailers and containers, up 8 percent compared with last year.

Source: Association of American Railroads