Rail Traffic, Intermodal Gain for Week Despite Hurricane

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.S. railroad freight traffic rose for the week ended Sept. 24 from a year ago despite damage caused to rail lines by Hurricane Rita, the Association of American Railroads said.

Overall rail freight traffic rose 0.5% for the week, to 335,932 carloads, while intermodal traffic rose 4.41% compared with the same week last year, AAR said in its weekly report.

Intermodal container volume rose 5.2% to 179,981 units, while trailers rose 2% to 61,135, the group said.

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.