AAR: U.S. rail traffic continues to rise in May

Combined U.S. carload and intermodal cargo volumes increased 6.4 percent in May 2017 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).    The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported a 6.4 percent increase in combined U.S. carload and intermodal units in May 2017 compared to May 2016.
   U.S. railroads originated over 1.28 million carloads in May 2017, an 8.4 percent increase over May 2016 carloads, and over 1.33 million containers and trailers, 4.6 percent more than in the same month a year ago, according to AAR.  
   “All things considered, May was a good month for rail traffic,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray.  “Thirteen of the 20 commodity categories we track had higher carloads in May 2017 than in May 2016, including the four biggest categories — coal, chemicals, crushed stone and sand, and grain. Excluding coal, carloads in May were up 4.1 percent, their biggest monthly increase in more than two years, and May was the best intermodal month of the year.”
   According to AAR, coal was up 19.6 percent or 64,059 carloads; grain, up 24.5 percent or 22,963 carloads; and crushed stone, sand and gravel, up 15.3 percent or 17,416 carloads.
   Commodities that saw declines in May 2017 from May 2016 include petroleum and petroleum products, down 16.5 percent or 9,365 carloads; primary forest products, down 12.1 percent or 742 carloads; and motor vehicles and parts, down 3.8 percent or 3,419 carload, said AAR.
   Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 22 weeks of 2017 stood at 11.4 million carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.5 percent over the same period last year, said AAR.