AAR: Rail traffic increasing

The agency reported gains in total rail traffic during the first week of November.    Rail traffic during the first week of November rose 0.2 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Association of American Railroads.
   For the week ending Nov. 8, rail traffic finished at 297,694 carloads, with intermodal volume up 2.2 percent to 271,113 units.
   Shipments of nonmetallic minerals increased by 13 percent, year-over-year, and petroleum shipments were up by 12.4 percent. In all, five of 10 measured commodity groups saw increases over the same week in 2013. Cars and car parts saw the biggest decline at 12.8 percent.  
   So far this year, total rail and intermodal traffic is up by 4.4 percent, compared to the first 45 weeks of 2013.