Rail Traffic Gains; Intermodal Sets Another Weekly Record

October 28, 2005 5:30 PM, EDT

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verall rail freight traffic rose during the week ended Oct. 22 and intermodal volume set a weekly record, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Intermodal traffic topped 250,000 units and total rail volume broke 35 billion ton-miles for the first time ever, AAR said in its weekly report.

Total intermodal volume rose 7.9% over the same week last year to 250,152 units. Rail intermodal trailer volume rose 2.7% to 64,374 units and containers jumped 9.8% to 185,778, the group said.

Intermodal had set a record the week before, rising 8% over the same week last year. (Click here for previous coverage.)

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.