Weekly Rail Traffic Tops Same Weeks in 2008 and 2009; Highest Rail Traffic for Week 42 Since 2007

"The Association of American Railroads today reported that rail traffic for the week ending July 3, 2010 topped comparison weeks from both 2008 and 2009. Carloads were up 18.8 percent, at 286,777 cars, from the comparable week in 2009 (see chart above) and up 0.4 percent from the same week in 2008.

Intermodal traffic totaled 231,286 trailers and containers, the highest since week 42 of 2008. Volume was up 36.6 percent from a year ago (see chart above) and 19.1 percent from 2008. Container volume of 197,134 was the sixth highest week ever and the highest since week 39 of 2007. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume gained 39.8 percent and trailer volume rose 20.9 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume increased 30.8 percent and trailer volume fell 21.3 percent."

MP: As the chart above illustrates, rail traffic has been improving all year, with positive gains in weekly traffic compared to 2009 in almost every week of 2010.  However, this week marks the first time that both carload volume and intermodal traffic were above the comparable weeks in both 2008 and 2009, bringing traffic for Week 42 to the highest levels since 2007.