Railway loads down 12.3% from the same month in 2008

Canadian railway industry loaded 19.7 million metric tonnes in June, down 12.3% from the same month in 2008.

The drop in tonnage was the result of decreased freight loadings in both non-intermodal and intermodal railway transportation systems.

Compared with June 2008, non-intermodal loadings fell 12.1% to 17.6 million metric tonnes in June. The decline was widespread, as the majority of commodity groups registered decreased activity. Among the commodity groups, potash shipments were down more than a million tonnes (-73.7%). Large declines were also reported for iron and steel (primary or semi-finished), coal, and sand, gravel and crushed stone.

Although overall non-intermodal loadings fell in June, a number of commodity groups saw strong gains in tonnage loaded, including wheat, colza seeds (canola) and fresh, chilled or dried vegetables.

Intermodal loadings declined 13.7% from June 2008 to 2.0 million metric tonnes. The drop stemmed from declines in both containers and trailers loaded onto flat cars.

Rail freight traffic coming from the United States fell 22.8% from June 2008 to 2.2 million metric tonnes.