US rail transport increases in March despite fall in steel shipments

US rail transport has increased in March despite a drop in steel shipments: the March, according to a statement by the American Railways Association (AAR), that the total traffic of US railways in March this year increased with the increase in intermodal and wagon loading traffic, compared to March of 2013. In March, intermodal traffic of US railways was recorded as 9,9 trailers and containers with an annual increase of 92.661 or 1.025.907 units. Thus, intermodal traffic in the United States has shown an annual increase in fifty-second month. In March, the average weekly intermodal traffic reached the highest march level with the 256.477 trailer and container. Total wagon loadings in the same month were recorded as 3,5 units with an increase of 38,628 or 1.156.697 units on an annual basis.

In 20 of the 11 industries whose data was collected by AAR in March, wagon loadings increased on an annual basis. The largest increases in wagon loadings in the specified month are 21,2% or 14.272 wagons with grain, 2,2% or 9,649 wagons and coal, 5,6% or 4.454 wagons with crushed stone, sand and gravel and 8,2% or 4.524 wagons seen in oil and oil products shipments. The biggest decreases in wagon shipments in March were in iron and scrap shipments with 13,7% or 2.602 wagons, metal ore with 7,1% or 1.345 wagons and base metal products with 2,1% or 874 wagons.

In the US, March wagon shipments increased 2,9% or 14.707 wagons year-on-year, excluding coal and grain shipments.

John T. Gray, vice president of AAR's Politics and Economics unit, said in a statement on the matter: “US rail transport saw a strong rise in March, following a mediocre outlook in February. Particularly, grain shipments increased significantly. Railways are working hard to transport the largest grain harvest in US history. In addition, coal wagon loadings rose in March. This has only happened once in the past two years. The statistics for March proved that the intermodal traffic record, which was set in 2013, will be improved in 2014. said.