Statistics Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Highlights
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
- The Canadian railway industry loaded 19.8 million metric tonnes of freight in March, down 13.8% from the same month in 2008.
- The drop in tonnage was the result of decreased non-intermodal and intermodal freight loadings.
- Compared with the same month last year, non-intermodal loadings fell 14.1% to 17.8 million metric tonnes. The decline occurred as a result of a drop in the majority of the commodities groups carried by the railways. Among the commodities groups with the largest decreases in tonnage were potash, coal, lumber, iron and steel (primary or semi-finished), and wood pulp.
- Despite the overall drop in non-intermoal loadings, wheat, colza seeds (canola) and fresh, chilled or dried vegetables registered strong gains in tonnage loaded compared with March 2008.
- Intermodal loadings stemming from containers and trailers loaded onto flat cars fell 11.7% from March 2008 to 2.0 million metric tonnes. Both equipment types (containers and trailers) saw decreased activity.
- Rail freight traffic coming from the United States dropped to 2.4 million metric tonnes, down 15.4% from March 2008.
