AAR update: Mixed weekly rail traffic results

The Association of American Railroads reported that freight traffic continues to show some improvement compared with 2009, though down sharply compared with the same week in 2008. For the week ending Jan. 30, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 278,438 carloads, up 7.0 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 12.7 percent from 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 203,952 trailers and containers, up 7.5 percent from a year ago, but down 9.7 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 11.2 percent and trailer volume fell 9.3 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume decreased 2.2 percent and trailer volume dropped 36.5 percent.