The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today that U.S. Class I railroads originated a record 97,135 carloads of crude oil in the first quarter, up 20 percent from the 81,122 carloads in fourth quarter of 2012 and 166 percent higher than the 36,544 carloads originated in the first quarter of 2012. An updated AAR background paper on moving crude oil by rail is here. AAR also reported mixed rail traffic for the week ending May 25, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 281,727 carloads, down 3.3 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 248,210 units, up 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year.  Total U.S. traffic for the week was 529,937 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, led by petroleum and petroleum products, up 28.7 percent. Commodities showing a decrease compared with the same week last year included grain, down 21.8 percent, and metallic ores and metals, down 10.5 percent.

For the first 21 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,811,904 carloads, down 1.8 percent from the same point last year, and 5,039,245 intermodal units, up 4.1 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 21 weeks of 2013 was 10,851,149 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.8 percent from last year.

Canadian railroads reported 76,567 carloads for the week, up 12.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 53,805 intermodal units, up 31.3 percent compared with 2012. For the first 21 weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,651,359 carloads, up 2.3 percent from the same point last year, and 1,093,894 intermodal units, up 4.7 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 16,777 carloads for the week, up 14.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 9,847 intermodal units, down 2.4 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 21 weeks of 2013 is 315,377 carloads, up 9 percent from the same point last year, and 192,060 intermodal units, down 0.3 percent from last year.

Combined North American rail volume for the 21 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 7,778,640 carloads, down 0.6 percent compared with the same point last year, and 6,325,199 trailers and containers, up 4.1 percent compared with last year.