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Intermodal Traffic Rises 8.6% for Week
Intermodal traffic rose 8.6% in the week ended Saturday compared with the first week of 2010, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Intermodal traffic totaled 213,665 units, led by a 10% jump in containers to 182,209 units. Trailers rose 1% to 31,456 units.
U.S. railroads originated 285,108 carloads for the week, a 20.1% increase from a year ago, AAR said in its weekly report.
Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.
