Rail Volume Declines, Intermodal Stays High

November 4, 2005 8:45 AM, EST

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ail freight traffic fell for the week ended Oct. 29 but intermodal volume levels continued to climb, reaching the sixth-highest weekly volume ever, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Total intermodal volume rose 3.1% over the same week last year to 243,248 units. Trailer volume fell 4.6% to 62,875 units while container volume rose 6.1% to 243,248 over the same week last year.

For the month of October, rail freight traffic fell, while intermodal rose over a year earlier, AAR said.

Intermodal volume set a record at 987,899 trailers and containers, up 6.3% over October 2004, the group said. Total rail carloads for the month fell 2.8% to 1.3 million.

ailroad 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.