Surge Upward in Rail Carloadings in 2003

AAR ^ | 1/15/2003 | American Association of Railroads

[Uncle George]

Ton milage is up 9.2 percent this year over last years total. This is the BELLWEATHER yardstick as how the economy is progressing. Looks like Bushenomics are starting to respond. Full article is at www.aar.org/

[Uncle George]

Railroad data is like a patients temperature, they really measure the HEALTH of the Nation.

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[Free the USA]

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[Reagan is King]

I perform eye exams for personnel at several companies that repair railroad cars and they have been telling me recently that they're swamped with work and hiring extra people.

I've thought that this may be one or the earliest signs of recovery in that the companies using the rail cars have to get all their cars in shape to keep up with the increasing demand. Let's hope so!

[Free the USA]

fyi

[per loin]

Ayn smiles.

[Dr Warmoose]

Of course this couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that fuel prices and insurance costs have jumped so transportation by rail saves even more money relative to over the road.

[piasa]

I don't know any underemployed truckers- they're busy as can be.

[Nick Danger]

It all sucks. Thanks to Bush the railroads have moved to China. We're doomed. Woe is us. The end is near.

[Teacher317]

Railroad data is like a patients temperature, they really measure the HEALTH of the Nation

Ah, c'mon, that's SO outdated in our modern economy.
Rail transport of goods and resources was done by 21st Century Matter Transporters during the Great Clinton Bridge-to-the-Next-Century Era.
Now that GWB is in office, he's dragging us back to the 20th Century with all these increases in that silly rail transport.

Of COURSE I have proof... ya haven't seen any Matter Transporters lately, have ya?!? ;^)

[JNB]

It depends on what the railroads arer loading up. Coal and grain shipments go up and down regaurdless of the economy. My guess is at least 50% of the rise is due to the automative industry, having parts shipped in, and shipping finished cars on the way out.

[B-Chan]

The railroads build, maintain, and improve their rolling stock and infrastructure and still turn a tidy profit every year --after taxes!. Imagine if air carriers, motor freight companies, and merchant marine lines had to build and maintain their own rights of way and infrastructure out of their earnings!

So much for the myth of "government-supported railroads".