The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Thursday increased US rail traffic for September 2014, with both carload and intermodal volume increasing compared with September 2013. US Class I railroads originated 1,190,431 carloads in September 2014, up 2.7 percent, or 30,837 carloads, over September 2013. September marked the seventh straight month of year-over-year carload increases, something that hasn’t happened since early 2011.
Intermodal traffic in September totaled 1,073,042 containers and trailers, up 4.5 percent, or 45,803 units, over September 2013. The second, third, and fourth weeks of September 2014 were the three highest-volume intermodal weeks in history for US railroads.
Fifteen of the 20 commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw year-over-year carload increases in September. Commodities with carload increases in September 2014 over September 2013 were led by petroleum and petroleum products, up 14,375 carloads, or 28.1 percent. Carloads of crushed stone, gravel, and sand were up 11,423, or 12.6 percent, and carloads of primary metal products were up 2,931, or 7 percent. Carloads of grain rose 2,751, or 4.1 percent.
Commodities with carload declines in September 2014 from September 2013 were led by coal, down 8,109 carloads, or 1.7 percent. Excluding coal, US rail carloads were up 38,946 carloads, or 5.6 percent, in September 2014 over September 2013. Excluding coal and grain, US rail carloads were up 36,195, or 5.8 percent, in September 2014.
“As has generally been the case in recent months, US freight rail traffic in September was consistent with an economy that’s growing at a steady pace. We think that will probably continue for the foreseeable future,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray.