AAR REPORTS WEEKLY RAIL TRAFFIC FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21, 2017

[elleng]

' The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 21, 2017.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 559,989 carloads and intermodal units, up 3 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending October 21 were 268,943 carloads, up 0.2 percent compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 291,046 containers and trailers, up 5.6 percent compared to 2016 and the most for any week in history.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They included nonmetallic minerals, up 3,839 carloads, to 41,227; metallic ores and metals, up 2,940 carloads, to 22,059; and chemicals, up 2,097 carloads, to 30,818. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included coal, down 3,814 carloads, to 86,311; grain, down 2,422 carloads, to 24,018; and motor vehicles and parts, down 1,582 carloads, to 16,920.

For the first 42 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,909,100 carloads, up 3.6 percent from the same point last year; and 11,293,191 intermodal units, up 3.7 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 42 weeks of 2017 was 22,202,291 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending October 21, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 368,095 carloads, up 1.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 374,525 intermodal units, up 7.6 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 742,620 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.6 percent. North American rail volume for the first 42 weeks of 2017 was 29,450,729 carloads and intermodal units, up 5 percent compared with 2016.'>>>

https://www.aar.org/newsandevents/Press-Releases/Pages/2017-10-25-railtraffic.aspx

These numbers can give a good view of the state of the economy, especially for those who check them regularly.

[lunasun]

1. Thanks for the numbers!

[elleng]

3. You're welcome, lunasun.

Colleagues of mine looked at them regularly. (I worked at Interstate Commerce Commission, so railroads were part of our business.)

Since I've been retired, I haven't watched these numbers, tho should have. RRs are a major feature of the economy, and loadings tell quite a bit about what's happening.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Coal shipments were up over last year.

"They included nonmetallic minerals, up 3,839 carloads,..."

I saw a northbound coal train from the Braddock Road Metrorail stop last week. It was only about 20 or 25 cars long. It's not like the old days.