Weekly U.S. Rail Loadings Up

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/06 - SNS -- The number of carloads of grains and oilseeds delivered to U.S. ports for the week ending January 4 rose, according to the USDA's Transportation and Marketing Programs/Transportation Services Branch weekly Grain Transportation Report.

Total carloads delivered to major port areas during the week totalled 8,007, up from 7,148 the previous week. This lifted calendar year to date deliveries to 8,007 cars, down 7% from the 8,570 cars unloaded during the same period last season.

In releasing its first transportation update for calendar 2006, the USDA said, "Rail movements of grain are expected to increase over the next 3–6 months. Producers are expected to sell more grain during the first half of the year. Also, train speeds are expected to improve, and less competition is expected for limited rail capacity."

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