In the weekly rail traffic summary released Feb. 28, 2013, the Association of American Railroads reported that rail traffic remained mixed for the week ending Feb. 23, 2013. U.S. carload volume was down 1.2 percent, while intermodal volume was up 11 percent compared to the same week in 2012. Total U.S. rail traffic was up 4.1 percent compared to the same week last year.
According to the AAR, the cumulative volume for the U.S. for the first eight weeks of 2013 was up 0.6 percent from the same point in 2012. Total carload volume for the period dropped 4.6 percent, while intermodal volume is up 7.3 percent compared to last year.
Both Canadian carload and intermodal volume was up for the week ending Feb. 28, 2013. Carload volume increased by 1.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and intermodal volume was up 12.6 percent. Total Canadian rail traffic for the first eight weeks of 2013 is also up from the same time period in 2012; carload up 1.8 percent and intermodal up 5.5 percent.
Mexican carload volume for the week increased 12.4 percent, and intermodal volume was up 12.3 percent compared to the same week in 2012. The total Mexican carload volume for the first eight weeks of 2013 is up 8.4 percent, and intermodal volume is up 0.1 percent from last year.
Combined North American volume for the first eight weeks in 2013 is mixed; carload volume is down 2.8 percent, while intermodal volume is up 6.8 percent compared with the same point last year.
