The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported weekly rail carload volume set a new 2010 record for the second consecutive week. U.S. railroads originated 305,000 carloads during the week ending Sept. 4, 2010, up 6.9 percent compared with the same week in 2009, and at comparable levels to the same week in 2008. The 2008 comparison week included the Labor Day holiday while the corresponding weeks in both 2010 and 2009 did not. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008.

Intermodal traffic totaled 237,006 trailers and containers, up 18 percent from the same week in 2009, and up 18 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 19.4 percent and trailer volume rose 10.7 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 27.1 percent and trailer volume declined 16.9 percent.

Thirteen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009 with metallic ores and metals and metal products continuing to post significant increases, up 57.1 percent and 32.4 percent respectively. Nine carload commodity groups, led by farm products excluding grain, posted an increase over the 2008 comparison week.

Carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 4.7 percent from the same week last year, but down 1.5 percent from 2008. In the West, carload volume was up 8.4 percent from the same week last year and up .9 percent from two years ago.

For the first 35 weeks of 2010, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,945,718 carloads, up 7.1 percent from 2009, but down 12.6 percent from 2008, and 7,494,424 trailers or containers, up 14.4 percent from 2009, but down 4.7 percent from 2008.

Canadian railroads reported volume of 76,823 cars for the week, up 19.6 percent from last year, and 50,700 trailers or containers, up 13.8 percent from 2009. For the first 35 weeks of 2010, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,535,570 carloads, up 20.6 percent from last year, and 1,636,369 trailers or containers, up 15.7 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 13,572 cars, up 24.7 percent from the same week last year, and 7,532 trailers or containers, up 14.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 35 weeks of 2010 was reported as 480,632 carloads, up 20.7 percent from last year; and 229,596 trailers or containers, up 30.2 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 35 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 12,961,920 carloads, up 10 percent from last year, and 9,360,389 trailers and containers, up 15 percent from last year.

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