One thing overlooked in these statistics is that 1 intermodal unit isn't the tonnage equivalent of a carload - far from it. A 20 net ton container load is only about 1/5 of a 100 to 110 ton carload, yet they're being given equal weight in these figures. The volumes might be closer - I haven't done the detailed math - but obviously even an 8' x 9.5' x 53' domestic container is significantly less than a modern boxcar at approx. 10.5' x 12' x 60'. Revenue equivalency is impossible to establish without detailed knowlege of the commodities and their rates.
The statistics ought to be adjusted to reflect this discrepancy. Otherwise, converting 1 carload to 5 containers may look like a 400% increase in units, but it's just the same tonnage in different boxes. An illusion, at best.
- PDN.
WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 20. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 508,239 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.9 percent compared with the same w...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/01/24-aar-reports-weekly-intermodal-and-carload-traffic-for-the-week-of-jan-19
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
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