Intermodal gains highest in 20 years

WASHINGTON — Intermodal rail traffic in the U.S. jumped 19.2 percent in June from the same month in 2009, the largest year-over-year monthly gain since 1990.

However, according to the Association of American Railroads, intermodal traffic was still 1.4 percent lower than June 2008.

June rail carloads were up 10.6 percent from last year, but were still down 10.2 percent from June 2008.

"While June traffic shows signs of an economy that is in better shape than it was a year ago, we still have a long way to go to see rail traffic levels associated with a full recovery," said John Gray, AAR senior vice president.

Average weekly container volume in June 2010 was the ninth highest since 1990, reflecting a years-long trend of domestic freight converting from truck trailers to containers on rail, the report said.