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Railway carloadings
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The Canadian railway industry loaded 18.6 million metric tonnes in February, down 13.2% from the same month in 2008.
Both non-intermodal and intermodal transportation systems experienced decreased activity.
Compared with the same month last year, non-intermodal loadings in February fell 13.0% to 16.8 million metric tonnes. The drop in loadings was widespread, as the majority of the commodity groups registered decreased activity. Among those with the largest declines in tonnage were potash, coal, iron and steel (primary or semi-finished), lumber and sulphur.
Despite the drop in overall loadings, wheat, colza seeds (canola) and fresh, chilled or dried vegetables, showed strong gains in tonnage loaded compared with February 2008.
Intermodal loadings decreased 15.7% from February 2008 to 1.9 million metric tonnes. The drop was attributable to double-digit declines of both containers and trailers loaded onto flat cars.
Rail freight traffic coming from the United States decreased to 2.4 million metric tonnes, down 10.6% from February 2008.
Available on CANSIM: table 404-0002.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2732.
The February 2009 issue of Monthly Railway Carloadings, Vol. 86, no. 2 (52-001-XWE, free), is now available from the Publications module of our website.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the Dissemination Unit (toll-free 1-866-500-8400; fax: 613-951-0009; transportationstatistics@statcan.gc.ca), Transportation Division.
