Rail Freight Declines, Intermodal Continues to Climb

November 18, 2005 4:30 PM, EST

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ail freight traffic fell for the week ended Nov. 12, but intermodal continued to rise compared to the same week a year earlier, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Total intermodal volume for the week rose 6.4% year-over-year to 248,724, AAR said. Trailer volume fell 1.3% to 66,102 while container volume surged 8.3% to 182,622 units.

Total rail carloads for the week fell 1.3% to 333,758, the group said in its weekly report.

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.