RECORD U.S. INTERMODAL RAIL TRAFFIC IN 2002

RECORD U.S. INTERMODAL RAIL TRAFFIC IN 2002    Intermodal traffic on U.S. railroads has set another annual record during 2002, for the sixth time in the last seven years.
   The Association of American Railroads reported that the cumulative U.S. intermodal traffic recorded during the first 51 weeks of 2002 — 9.23 million trailers and containers — has already exceeded the annual volume of 9.18 million intermodal units moved during the 52 weeks of 2000, when the previous annual record was set.
   Full-year statistics for 2002 have not been published, yet.
   In 2001, intermodal traffic carried by U.S. railroads had decreased by 2.6 percent. But after a slow start of the year, rail-based intermodal recovered in 2002.
   Intermodal volume during the week ended Dec. 21, 2002 totaled 184,430 trailers and containers, up 8.6 percent from the comparable 2001 week. This brought the total for the first 51 weeks of 2002 to 9.23 million trailers and containers, up 4.5 percent from last year.
   The Association of American Railroads also reported a 27.2-percent surge in intermodal traffic on Canadian railroads during the week ended Dec. 21, when they    carried 44,314 trailers and containers. For the first 51 weeks of 2002, Canadian railroads moved 2.01 million trailers and containers, up 11.8 percent from last year.
   Combined cumulative volume for the first 51 weeks of 2002 on 16 reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads totaled 11.24 million, representing an increase of 5.7 percent from last year.
   “This year marks the first time that the combined U.S. and Canadian intermodal total has exceeded 11 million units,” the association said.