Rail, Intermodal Traffic Rise for Week

ail freight traffic, led by a 9% surge in coal volumes, increased 6.1%, and intermodal loadings rose 3.8% last week, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

Intermodal volume was reported for the week at 193,854 trailers and containers, with containers up 5.8%, while trailer volume declined 2.4%.

Carload volume was reported at 294,499 cars, up 4.9% from last year, AAR 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.