Canadian Railcar Loadings Surge

OTTAWA - Nov 21/07 - SNS -- Canadian railways recorded their strongest third quarter freight loadings in seven years despite a decrease in loadings during the last month of the quarter, according to Statistics Canada.

Railways loaded 23.9 million metric tons (MT) of freight in September, a decrease of 4.2% from the 24.9 million MT reported in August.

The intermodal portion, which consists of both containers and trailers loaded on flat cars, declined 7.7% in September to 2.4 million MT. Although intermodal loadings decreased, September's loadings represent the highest amount for the month since 1999.

The non-intermodal portion of the freight loaded in September also decreased, declining 3.8% to 21.5 million MT. The decrease in non-intermodal loadings was widespread, the result of declines in 48 of the 64 commodity classifications. Even with such a decline, September's loadings represent the second highest non-intermodal loadings for the month since 1999.

Rail freight traffic destined for or passing through Canada from the United States declined in September. Tonnage decreased by 3.9%, or 113,000 MT, to 2.8 million MT.

On a year-over-year basis, intermodal loadings edged up 0.5% from September 2006, while non-intermodal tonnage edged down 0.4%. Traffic received from the United States continued its strong monthly annual gain, rising 14% from September 2006.

September's traffic received from the United States represents both the strongest year-over-year increase in tonnage for the month of September and the second highest monthly traffic level ever since 1999. The growth in tonnage is attributable to a 12% year-over-year increase in the amount of carloadings originating from the United States.

On a quarterly basis, intermodal and non-intermodal loadings reached record heights in the third quarter. Intermodal loadings were the highest loadings of any quarter since 1999, with 7.4 million MT, while non-intermodal loadings were the strongest year-over-year quarterly loadings with 66 million MT.

Third quarter traffic received from the United States also reached record heights. Tonnage totalled 8.3 million MT—the highest amount of traffic of any quarter since 1999.