Rail, Intermodal Volumes Gain in Most Recent Week

ail freight traffic rose for the week ended June 25 compared with the same week last year, and intermodal volume continued to increase, the Association of American Railroads said.

The gain was the second in a row and was the fourth in the past seven weeks, according to AAR data.

Intermodal volume rose 4.4%, the rail trade group said in its weekly report. Container volume rose 7.1% to 170,724 units while intermodal trailer levels fell 3.1% to 58,211 units, continuing a trend this year.

AAR estimated total revenue ton-miles for the week at 32.1 billion, up 1.6% from last year.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.