Rail Volume Hits Weekly Record, AAR Says

ail freight levels reached a record for the week ended April 16, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Total revenue ton-miles reached 33.8 billion, up 4.7% from the same week last year, AAR said in its weekly report. The previous weekly record of 33.2 billion RTMs was set in the week ended Nov. 20.

Rail intermodal volume rose 6.4% for the week compared to last year, reaching 219,900 trailers or containers, up 6.4% from the same week last year, AAR 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.