The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported for the week ending Nov. 20, 2010, U.S. freight railroads continue to post weekly rail traffic gains, originating 297,990 carloads, up 3.9 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal traffic for the week totaled 235,999 trailers and containers, up 10.6 percent compared with the same week in 2009, with container volume up 11.7 percent and trailer volume up 5.2 percent.

Fourteen of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009. Commodities posting double digit gains in loadings included: metallic ores up 76.7 percent; metals up 22.3 percent; crushed stone, sand and gravel up 21.1 percent, and farm products other than grain - up 14.5 percent.  Among commodities reporting declines were nonmetallic minerals, off 26.1 percent, and motor vehicles and equipment, down 12.4 percent.  After 46 weeks, all 19 commodity groups are cumulatively ahead of where they were at this point year ago.

Carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 2.9 percent compared with last year. In the West, carload volume was up 4.5 percent compared with the same week in 2009.

For the first 46 weeks of 2010, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 13,207,976 carloads, up 7.2 percent from last year, and 10,064,446 trailers or containers, up 14.4 percent from the comparison week in 2009.

Canadian railroads reported volume of 75,649 cars for the week, up 5 percent from last year, and 48,521 trailers or containers, up 12.8 percent from 2009. For the first 46 weeks of 2010, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,373,097 carloads, up 17.4 percent from last year, and 2,185,299 trailers or containers, up 15.7 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported originated volume of 12,997 cars, up 6.3 percent from the same week last year, and 6,547 trailers or containers, up 1.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 46 weeks of 2010 was reported as 632,008 carloads, up 19.1 percent from last year; and 312,934 trailers or containers, up 24.2 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 46 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 17,213,081 carloads, up 9.4 percent from last year, and 12,562,679 trailers and containers, up 14.8 percent from last year.

For more information, visit www.aar.org.