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[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending March 26, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mar. 30, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Mar. 26, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 470,271 carloads and intermodal units, down 16.5 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending Mar. 26 were 232,348 carloads, down 18.5 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 237,923 containers and trailers, down 14.5 percent compared to 2015.

 

Two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They were miscellaneous carloads, up 18.5 percent to 9,629 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 0.1 percent to 18,676 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 37.8 percent to 66,281 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 22.1 percent to 10,738 carloads; and grain, down 16.1 percent to 19,144 carloads.

 

For the first 12 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,905,113 carloads, down 13.7 percent from the same point last year; and 3,085,831 intermodal units, up 2.2 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 12 weeks of 2016 was 5,990,944 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 6.2 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending Mar. 26, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 316,443 carloads, down 17.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 296,384 intermodal units, down 15.9 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 612,827 carloads and intermodal units, down 16.9 percent. North American rail volume for the first 12 weeks of 2016 was 7,848,116 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.8 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 70,891 carloads for the week, down 13.8 percent, and 51,488 intermodal units, down 18.7 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 12 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,540,562 carloads, containers and trailers, down 5.3 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 13,204 carloads for the week, down 25.1 percent compared with the same week last year, and 6,973 intermodal units, down 34.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 12 weeks of 2016 was 316,610 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 1.6 percent from the same point last year.

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[CNJRoss]

BNSF Customer Notification:

 

To: All BNSF Customers 04/01/2016

Service Update for Friday, April 1, 2016

The operation generated strong performance gains and good fluidity across the network this week. Train velocity increased to match the highest weekly average of the year and the fastest level in the past two years. For the fifth time this year, average train speed for all BNSF trains was the fastest among all Class I railroads, according to reports filed with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) or by the railroad's own public reporting (week ending March 25). We also experienced a nearly 40 percent reduction in trains holding as the average of total trains held dropped to the lowest weekly level of the year.

BNSF responded to another rockslide in the Pacific Northwest early Monday morning, which occurred between Everett and Seattle on our Scenic Subdivision. While several trains experienced initial delays, our crews were able to quickly route traffic around the blockage to avoid further service disruption. High winds in Arizona and New Mexico also caused some train delays on our Southern Transcon earlier this week.

Service Expectations for the Week Ahead
No service interruptions due to weather are expected during the upcoming week. While a series of storm systems will impact the East Coast, mild, dry conditions are forecasted for much of our network.

Below is a look at the key operational performance categories for the week ending March 29:

Total trains held for the week decreased by more than 38 percent from the prior week with an average of 23.0 trains held.

• Versus the March 2015 average: better by 77.4%

Total trains on the system was down by nearly four percent from the prior week with an average of 1,176 trains on the system versus 1,220 during the prior week.

Locomotive velocity, measured in miles per day (MPD), was 290.7, which is down by nearly one percent from the 292.7 MPD recorded during the prior week.

• Versus the March 2015 average: better by 6.4%

Car velocity increased by more than two percent at 225.8 MPD versus 220.5 MPD recorded the prior week.

• Versus the March 2015 average: better by 6.5%

Train velocity was up by more than five percent from the prior week at 22.7 miles per hour.

• Versus the March 2015 average: better by 32.7%

Total volume was lower by more than two percent from the prior week with 165,843 units moved in Week 12 (ending March 26).

Terminal dwell was down by more than two percent from the prior week at 24.2 hours.

• Versus the March 2015 average: better by 2.4%

As always, we thank you for your business and appreciate the opportunity to serve as your transportation service provider. We welcome your feedback and questions.  

 

 

[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for March and Week Ending April 2, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 6, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported weekly U.S. rail traffic, as well as volumes for March 2016.

 

Carload traffic in March totaled 1,196,167 carloads, down 14.2 percent or 198,737 from March 2015. U.S. railroads also originated 1,250,925 containers and trailers in March 2016, down 7.7 percent or 104,343 units from the same month last year. For March 2016, combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations were 2,447,092, down 11 percent or 303,080 carloads and intermodal units from March 2015.

 

In March 2016, seven of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with March 2015. These included: chemicals, up 5.5 percent or 8,439 carloads; miscellaneous carloads, up 24.8 percent or 5,925 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 5.2 percent or 4,690 carloads. Commodities that saw declines in March 2016 from March 2015 included: coal, down 35.9 percent or 188,250 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 22.4 percent or 15,524 carloads; and metallic ores, down 27.1 percent or 7,281 carloads.

 

Excluding coal, carloads were down 1.2 percent or 10,487 carloads from March 2015.

Total U.S. carload traffic for the first quarter of 2016 was 3,143,251 carloads, down 13.8 percent or 501,616 carloads, while intermodal containers and trailers were 3,339,672 units, up 1.5 percent or 49,958 containers and trailers when compared to the same period in 2015. For the first quarter of 2016, total rail traffic volume in the United States was 6,482,923 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.5 percent or 451,658 carloads and intermodal units from the same point last year.   

 

"Railroads are still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, and for some commodities, including coal and other energy-related products, it's just not there yet," said AAR Senior Vice President of Policy and Economics John T. Gray. "That said, most economist are calling for continued slow but steady economic growth for the U.S. in the months ahead. Railroads stand ready to provide the freight transportation service the economy will require."

 

Week Ending April 2, 2016

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending April 2, 2016 was 491,979 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.4 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending April 2 were 238,138 carloads, down 14.3 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 253,841 containers and trailers, down 6.4 percent compared to 2015.

 

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They included miscellaneous carloads, up 20.2 percent to 9,324 carloads; chemicals, up 12.1 percent to 34,131 carloads; and grain, up 4.3 percent to 21,761 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 were coal, down 39.2 percent to 62,256 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 24.6 percent to 10,670 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, down 3.2 percent to 17,330 carloads.

 

For the first 13 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,143,251 carloads, down 13.8 percent from the same point last year; and 3,339,672 intermodal units, up 1.5 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 13 weeks of 2016 was 6,482,923 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 6.5 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending April 2, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 326,698 carloads, down 11.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 319,806 intermodal units, down 6 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 646,504 carloads and intermodal units, down 9 percent. North American rail volume for the first 13 weeks of 2016 was 8,494,620 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.1 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 72,554 carloads for the week, down 6.8 percent, and 55,885 intermodal units, down 9.3 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 13 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,669,001 carloads, containers and trailers, down 5.5 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 16,006 carloads for the week, up 10.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 10,080 intermodal units, up 35.7 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 13 weeks of 2016 was 342,696 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.2 percent from the same point last year.

[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 9, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Apr. 13, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Apr. 9, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 479,059 carloads and intermodal units, down 14.1 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending Apr. 9 were 229,704 carloads, down 20 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 249,355 containers and trailers, down 7.8 percent compared to 2015.

 

Two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They were miscellaneous carloads, up 20.7 percent to 9,274 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 0.9 percent to 17,986 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 44.9 percent to 58,166 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 22.3 percent to 11,910 carloads; and grain, down 20.5 percent to 18,871 carloads.

 

For the first 14 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,372,955 carloads, down 14.2 percent from the same point last year; and 3,589,027 intermodal units, up 0.8 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 14 weeks of 2016 was 6,961,982 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 7.1 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending Apr. 9, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 315,661 carloads, down 18 percent compared with the same week last year, and 317,414 intermodal units, down 7.4 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 633,075 carloads and intermodal units, down 13 percent. North American rail volume for the first 14 weeks of 2016 was 9,127,695 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.6 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 70,683 carloads for the week, down 13.1 percent, and 56,907 intermodal units, down 8.1 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 14 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,796,591 carloads, containers and trailers, down 6 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 15,274 carloads for the week, down 8.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,152 intermodal units, up 7.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 14 weeks of 2016 was 369,122 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.4 percent from the same point last year.

[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Apr. 20, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Apr. 16, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 499,779 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.1 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending Apr. 16 were 240,462 carloads, down 12.9 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 259,317 containers and trailers, down 7.4 percent compared to 2015.

 

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They included miscellaneous carloads, up 22.8 percent to 9,823 carloads; grain, up 14.3 percent to 20,784 carloads; and chemicals, up 3.4 percent to 32,355 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 36.5 percent to 63,090 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 27.7 percent to 10,887 carloads; and forest products, down 7.5 percent to 9,963 carloads.

 

For the first 15 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,613,417 carloads, down 14.1 percent from the same point last year; and 3,848,344 intermodal units, up 0.2 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 15 weeks of 2016 was 7,461,761 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 7.3 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending Apr. 16, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 327,138 carloads, down 12.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 329,899 intermodal units, down 6.7 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 657,037 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.8 percent. North American rail volume for the first 15 weeks of 2016 was 9,784,732 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.8 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 70,820 carloads for the week, down 13.7 percent, and 59,305 intermodal units, down 4.8 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 15 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,926,716 carloads, containers and trailers, down 6.2 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 15,856 carloads for the week, down 5.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,277 intermodal units, up 0.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 15 weeks of 2016 was 396,255 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.6 percent from the same point last year.

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[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 23, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Apr. 27, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Apr. 23, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 491,946 carloads and intermodal units, down 11.7 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending Apr. 23 were 230,599 carloads, down 17.1 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 261,347 containers and trailers, down 6.3 percent compared to 2015.

 

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They were miscellaneous carloads, up 23.3 percent to 9,515 carloads; chemicals, up 1.6 percent to 30,858 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 1.3 percent to 19,138 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 40.1 percent to 58,837 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 24.9 percent to 11,348 carloads; and grain, down 7.9 percent to 18,340 carloads.

 

For the first 16 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,844,016 carloads, down 14.3 percent from the same point last year; and 4,109,691 intermodal units, down 0.2 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 16 weeks of 2016 was 7,953,707 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 7.6 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending Apr. 23, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 315,373 carloads, down 16.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 333,142 intermodal units, down 5.4 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 648,515 carloads and intermodal units, down 11 percent. North American rail volume for the first 16 weeks of 2016 was 10,433,247 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.1 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 68,351 carloads for the week, down 16.3 percent, and 60,979 intermodal units, down 2.3 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 16 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,056,046 carloads, containers and trailers, down 6.5 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 16,423 carloads for the week, down 0.1 percent compared with the same week last year, and 10,816 intermodal units, down 0.7 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 16 weeks of 2016 was 423,494 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.6 percent from the same point last year.

[CNJRoss]

AAR news release, 5/4:

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for April and Week Ending April 30, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 4, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported weekly U.S. rail traffic, as well as volumes for April 2016.

 

Carload traffic in April totaled 944,339 carloads, down 16.1 percent or 180,598 from April 2015. U.S. railroads also originated 1,028,460 containers and trailers in April 2016, down 7.5 percent or 83,729 units from the same month last year. For April 2016, combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations were 1,972,829, down 11.8

percent or 264,327 carloads and intermodal units from April 2015.

 

In April 2016, five of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with April 2015. These included: miscellaneous carloads, up 25 percent or 4,743 carloads; coke, up 16.1 percent or 2.354 carloads; and chemicals, up 1.5 percent or 1,909 carloads. Commodities that saw declines in April 2016 from April 2015 included: coal, down 39.7 percent or 160,624 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 25.1 percent or 15,122 carloads; and grain mill products, down 7.1 percent or 2,760 carloads.

 

Excluding coal, carloads were down 2.8 percent or 19,974 carloads from April 2015.

 

Total U.S. carload traffic for the first 17 weeks of 2016 was 4,087,620 carloads, down 14.3 percent or 83,729 carloads, while intermodal containers and trailers were 4,368,132 units, down 0.8 percent or 33,771 containers and trailers when compared to the same period in 2015. For the first four months of 2016, total rail traffic volume in the United States was 8,455,752 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.8 percent or 715,985 carloads and intermodal units from the same point last year.

 

"Rail coal traffic continues to suffer due to low natural gas prices and high coal stockpiles at power plants.  Coal accounted for just 26 percent of non-intermodal rail traffic for U.S. railroads in April 2016, down from 36 percent in April 2015 and 45 percent as recently as late 2011," said AAR Senior Vice President of Policy and Economics John T. Gray.  "We expect non-coal carloads to strengthen when the economy gets stronger, and we think intermodal weakness in April is probably at least partly a function of high business inventories that need to be drawn down before new orders, and thus new shipments, are made."

 

Week Ending April 30, 2016

 

Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending April 30, 2016 was 502,045 carloads and intermodal units, down 11.3 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending April 30 were 243,604 carloads, down 14.1 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 258,441 containers and trailers, down 8.6 percent compared to 2015.

 

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They included miscellaneous carloads, up 12.7 percent to 10,204 carloads; grain, up 8.7 percent to 20,038 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 3.1 percent to 18,965 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 37 percent to 64,145 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 25.5 percent to 11,053 carloads; and forest products, down 13.1 percent to 10,025 carloads.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending Apr. 30, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 331,394 carloads, down 12.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 330,622 intermodal units, down 7.3 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 662,016 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.1 percent. North American rail volume for the first 17 weeks of 2016 was 11,095,263 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.3 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 71,400 carloads for the week, down 11.3 percent, and 60,413 intermodal units, down 4.7 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 17 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,187,859 carloads, containers and trailers, down 6.6 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 16,390 carloads for the week, up 3.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,768 intermodal units, up 9.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 17 weeks of 2016 was 451,652 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.2 percent from the same point last year.

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[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 7, 2016

Crude Oil Carloads for First Quarter of 2016 Also Updated

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May. 11, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May. 7, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 492,923 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.6 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending May. 7 were 233,047 carloads, down 14.8 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 259,876 containers and trailers, down 6.4 percent compared to 2015.

 

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They were miscellaneous carloads, up 6.7 percent to 9,839 carloads; chemicals, up 1.6 percent to 31,075 carloads; and grain, up 0.1 percent to 18,004 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 33.5 percent to 62,394 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 26.4 percent to 11,394 carloads; and metallic ores and metals, down 12.8 percent to 20,569 carloads.

 

For the first 18 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,320,667 carloads, down 14.3 percent from the same point last year; and 4,628,008 intermodal units, down 1.1 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 18 weeks of 2016 was 8,948,675 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 8 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending May. 7, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 314,690 carloads, down 14.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 330,817 intermodal units, down 5.8 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 645,507 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.4 percent. North American rail volume for the first 18 weeks of 2016 was 11,740,770 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.5 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 65,949 carloads for the week, down 17 percent, and 59,876 intermodal units, down 4.5 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 18 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,313,684 carloads, containers and trailers, down 6.9 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 15,694 carloads for the week, down 3.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,065 intermodal units, up 1.7 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 18 weeks of 2016 was 478,411 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.3 percent from the same point last year.

 

Crude Oil Carload Update

The AAR also reported U.S. Class I railroads originated 63,261 carloads of crude oil in the first quarter of 2016, down 21,664 carloads or 25.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015 and down 49,828 carloads or 44.1 percent from the first quarter of 2015.

 

[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 14, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 18, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 14, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 498,379 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.2 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending May 14 were 238,353 carloads, down 11.4 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 260,026 containers and trailers, down 7.2 percent compared to 2015.

 

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They included miscellaneous carloads, up 11.8 percent to 9,646 carloads; metallic ores and metals, up 5.5 percent to 23,881 carloads; and nonmetallic minerals, up 4.8 percent to 35,702 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 30.8 percent to 64,800 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 19 percent to 11,727 carloads; and grain, down 8.5 percent to 18,373 carloads.

 

For the first 19 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,559,020 carloads, down 14.2 percent from the same point last year; and 4,888,034 intermodal units, down 1.4 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 19 weeks of 2016 was 9,447,054 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 8 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending May 14, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 319,835 carloads, down 12.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 329,731 intermodal units, down 7.3 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 649,566 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.9 percent. North American rail volume for the first 19 weeks of 2016 was 12,390,336 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.6 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 64,651 carloads for the week, down 18.6 percent, and 57,876 intermodal units, down 9.6 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 19 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,436,211 carloads, containers and trailers, down 7.3 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 16,831 carloads for the week, up 0.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,829 intermodal units, up 1.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 19 weeks of 2016 was 507,071 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.2 percent from the same point last year.

[CNJRoss]

AAR news release:

 

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 21, 2016

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 25, 2016 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 21, 2016.

 

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 506,983 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.5 percent compared with the same week last year.

 

Total carloads for the week ending May 21 were 244,290 carloads, down 10.6 percent compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 262,693 containers and trailers, down 6.5 percent compared to 2015.

 

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They included miscellaneous carloads, up 20.7 percent to 10,071 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, up 4.7 percent to 37,326 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2.1 percent to 19,067 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2015 included coal, down 28.8 percent to 66,709 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 21.5 percent to 11,593 carloads; and forest products, down 8.3 percent to 10,341 carloads.

 

For the first 20 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,803,310 carloads, down 14 percent from the same point last year; and 5,150,727 intermodal units, down 1.7 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 20 weeks of 2016 was 9,954,037 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to last year.

 

North American rail volume for the week ending May 21, 2016, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 329,662 carloads, down 10.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 335,581 intermodal units, down 5.1 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 665,243 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.7 percent. North American rail volume for the first 20 weeks of 2016 was 13,055,579 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.6 percent compared with 2015.

 

Canadian railroads reported 67,402 carloads for the week, down 12.7 percent, and 61,756 intermodal units, up 1.2 percent compared with the same week in 2015. For the first 20 weeks of 2016, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,565,369 carloads, containers and trailers, down 7.3 percent.

 

Mexican railroads reported 17,970 carloads for the week, up 7.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,132 intermodal units, down 4.4 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 20 weeks of 2016 was 536,173 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.1 percent from the same point last year.