| Rail volume rises on intermodal traffic |
Class I rail volumes for the week ending Dec. 13, 2003, were up 2.8% year-on-year, driven by continued strength in intermodal traffic. Economically sensitive traffic increased 4.2% for the same period.
Motor vehicle loadings were down 6.5% and should continue to be an issue for railroads in the first quarter.
General Motors Corp. says production will be down 7% in first-quarter 2004. Ford Motor Co. predicts flat production. And DaimlerChrysler says production will increase 7.3%.
Commodity carloadings, which account for over three-fourths of rail volume, were up a mere 0.4% in week 50 or 0.3% year to date. Intermodal traffic showed a 6.6% increase for the week and was up 6.8% YTD.
| Class I Railcar Loadings by Railroad | |||
| (% Increase YTD Week 50) | |||
| Railroad | Commodity | Intermodal | Total |
| Burlington Northern Santa Fe | -0.4 | 12.4 | 5.4 |
| Canadian National | -0.2 | 4.6 | 1.2 |
| Canadian Pacific | 1.2 | 7.6 | 3.7 |
| CSX | 1.6 | 5.3 | 2.7 |
| Kansas City Southern | 0.8 | 8.5 | 3 |
| Norfolk Southern | 0.6 | 4.5 | 2 |
| TFM (Mexico) | 4.9 | 0 | 3.6 |
| Union Pacific | 0.6 | 1.7 | 1 |
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