Railcar Movement Declines

OTTAWA - Apr 29/09 - SNS -- Traffic handled by Canadian railways dropped below year earlier levels in February, finishing the month at 18.6 million metric tons (MT), down 13.2% from the same month in 2008, reports Statistics Canada.

Both non-intermodal and intermodal transportation systems experienced decreased activity.

Compared with the same month last year, non-intermodal loadings in February fell 13.0% to 16.8 million MT. The drop in loadings was widespread, as the majority of the commodity groups registered decreased activity. Among those with the largest declines in tonnage were potash, coal, iron and steel (primary or semi-finished), lumber and sulphur.

Despite the drop in overall loadings, wheat, colza seeds (canola) and fresh, chilled or dried vegetables, showed strong gains in tonnage loaded compared with February 2008.

Intermodal loadings decreased 15.7% from February 2008 to 1.9 million MT. The drop was attributable to double-digit declines of both containers and trailers loaded onto flat cars.

Rail freight traffic coming from the United States decreased to 2.4 million MT, down 10.6% from February 2008.