Rail freight was down across the board for the first half of 2007, according to Association of American Railroads data.
U.S. railroads originated 7.4 million carloads during the first 23 weeks of the year, down 4.4 percent. Intermodal totaled 5.2 million trailers and containers, down 1.3 percent compared with last year. Total estimated volume of 754.9 billion ton-miles dropped 3.1 percent.
Canadian railroads originated 1.8 million carloads during the first half, down 1 percent, and slightly more than 1 million trailers and containers, up 1.3 percent compared with last year.
On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 23 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 9.2 million carloads, down 3.8 percent year over year, and 6.3 million trailers and containers, down 0.9 percent.
In Mexico, Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V.'s total carloads decreased 4.6 percent to 249,970 units during the first 23 weeks. Intermodal loads rose 11.3 percent to 98,688 units.
http://www.aar.org