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Intermodal Traffic Rises 3.5% for Week
U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 3.5% last week from the same week a year ago to 250,156 units, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Year-to-date, intermodal traffic has risen 4.3% to 4.8 million units over the same period last year.
Railroad carloads increased 1.9% for the week ended Saturday to 285,679 units, according to AAR.
Five of the 10 carload groups posted increases compared with the same week last year, led by a 38% rise in petroleum products.
Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-value merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for shorter distances at either end of the trip.
