Intermodal rail volumes continue to rise

Intermodal rail volumes continue to rise    Paced by double-digit growth in international container movements, overall intermodal rail volumes grew 5.6 percent during the third quarter, according to statistics released Friday by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
   Intermodal rail volumes, which include international and domestic containers, plus intermodal truck trailers moved by rail, increased for the 14th consecutive quarter, according to IANA's Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, the association's quarterly report.
   International container volumes were up 10.2 across all nine regions of the United States and Canada measured in the report. The Northwest region, which has seen cargo diversions from Southern California this year, led the way with a 32 percent increase compared to the third quarter of 2004. The Pacific Southwest remains the total volume leader.
   The report showed the continuance of the long-term trend of shipments in trailers shifting to containers. Trailer volumes declined 2.1 percent, while domestic containers increased 1.2 percent. Overall domestic moves declined 0.3 percent, offsetting solid growth in international traffic.
   IANA said hurricanes Katrina and Rita only modestly affected overall intermodal volumes for the quarter.