AAR Reports Incremental Carload Gains in July, Still Down From 2008
21 Aug 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
AAR Communications, 202-639-2100, Holly Arthur harthur@aar.org
AAR AAR Reports Incremental Carload Gains in July, Still Down From 2008
August Rail Time Indicators Report, Video Summary Available Online
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aug. 21, 2009 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported that while there may be signs of incremental, month-to-month gains in carload traffic, year-over-year traffic remains down for July by 17.5 percent. According to AAR’s “Rail Time Indicators” report and video summary, intermodal rail traffic also remains down for July by 18 percent compared with the same month last year.
““While rail carloads are up incrementally in recent months, things have yet to fully rebound,” said AAR Senior Vice President John Gray. “Looking at the data, we can certainly say traffic seems to be heading in the right direction – but we still have a long, long way to go.”
The Rail Time Indicators monthly report combines rail traffic data with more than 15 key U.S. economic indicators – including consumer confidence, housing starts and industrial production. It offers a non-technical snapshot of how rail traffic data reflects the broader the U.S. economy.
AAR’s monthly video summary of the report, presented by a member of the association’s policy and economics team, also explores recent trends in rail traffic as an economic indicator. Both the Rail Time Indicators report and online video summary are available on the AAR web site: www.aar.org.
A widget containing the video and link to the report also is available, which makes it easy to share the material by uploading it to Web sites, blogs, or social networking profiles. This widget is a mini-Web application that also includes a contact form and a place to ask questions. To download the widget, click here or go to http://www.aar.org/NewsAndEvents/Widget/2009-0820-MonthlyTraffic.aspx.
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Editors Note: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads, or Class I railroads, of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Class I railroads represent 67 percent of the U.S. freight rail mileage and 90 percent of freight railroad industry employees. Railroads account for 43 percent of intercity freight volume — more than any other mode of transportation. To learn more about how freight rail works for America, the environment and for you, please visit: www.freightrailworks.org.