Carloads down, intermodal up in North America

   Total domestic rail activity ticked up 2.6 percent last week compared to the same week last year, reaching 535,835 carloads and intermodal units, according to the Association of American Railroads.
   Carloads were up 1.9 percent, and intermodal activity saw a 3.5-percent increase.
   Total domestic traffic of 10.32 million units so far in 2013 represents a 1-percent, year-over-year increase. On the year, carloads are down 1.7 percent, but intermodal units have grown 4.3 percent.
   Last week, petroleum and related goods saw the biggest activity increase at 38 percent. Commodities were down 28.3 percent, and metallic ores and metals fell 7.1 percent.
   For 2013, Mexican combined volumes have seen a 8.7-percent increase to 298,600 units and a 0.1-percent decline in intermodal units to 182,213 units. In Canada, carload activity of 1.57 million units so far this year represents a 1.8-percent rise, and intermodal, which finished last week at 1.04 million units for 2013, is up 3.6 percent. – Jon Ross