RAIL CARLOAD, INTERMODAL TRAFFIC CONTINUES DECLINE

RAIL CARLOAD, INTERMODAL TRAFFIC CONTINUES DECLINE    U.S. rail carload and intermodal traffic both fell 3.0 percent in February, according to the Association of American Railroads.
   Despite a 5.1-percent increase in coal carloadings partly offset sharp declines in motor vehicles and equipment (down 16.4 percent), metallic ores (down 26.5 percent), metals and metal products (13.8 percent) and forest products (9.1 percent).
   'Without coal, carloadings would have been down 8.1 percent in February,' said Craig F. Rockey, AAR vice president. The increase in coal follows a 5.7-percent rise in January, marking the first time coal saw back-to-back increases of more than 5 percent since October-November 1998.
   Through the first nine weeks of 2001, U.S. rail carloadings declined 2.6 percent to 2.92 million cars. Coal was up 5.4 percent, while motor vehicles and equipment fell 18.6 percent, metallic ores dropped 16.7 percent and primary metals declined 12.7 percent.
   Intermodal's February decline marked the first time intermodal volume totals fell two month in a row since June-July 1999. For the first nine weeks of 2001, intermodal volumes fell 2.3 percent to 1.48 million trailers and containers.