Rail Traffic Falls By Double-digits Last Week

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shipments carried by U.S. railroads fell sharply again last week, highlighting the still-fragile condition of the economy, a major industry trade group reported Thursday.

The Association of American Railroads said freight carried on the tracks for the week ending May 9 fell 25.8 percent to 249,576 carloads.

Freight shipments have fallen by double-digits consistently since December.

Volume fell 21.4 percent in the West, where cargo is primarily carried by Union Pacific Corp. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Volumes plunged 31.7 percent in the East, where freight is mostly hauled by CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp.

Intermodal volume sank 21 percent from a year ago. Intermodal involves moving freight from one method of transportation to another, such as truck to rail.

So far this year, shipments on U.S. rails are down 18.8 percent compared with the same period in 2008.