MAJOR North American railways moved 2.1 per cent more to 303,288 containers and trailers year on year in the week ending October 8, but was down 3.1 per cent from the all-time high of 313,026 units the week before, reports Association of American Railroads.

    This comes while ports and ocean shipping lines report flat to declining import traffic for the peak season, but surging export volumes, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce. Meanwhile, rail executives say stronger domestic traffic along with exports are boosting intermodal numbers.

    While fears abound of a renewed recession, rail data - which include Canada's a Mexico's - does not indicate this. While grain products are below 2010 levels, industrial freight, vehicles, lumber and ores are stronger year on year.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)