A plot of the ratio of 08 and 09 data to 07 data. Firstly intermodal units:
...and carloads:
It goes without saying that the bottom line in each chart is the 09/07 ratio. This data is for the weeks up until thanksgiving. The timing of thanksgiving (week #) differed in 07 to 08, 09. Including thanksgiving and the week after therefore gives a sharp spike and then subsequent sharp dip. The spike/dip is larger than the one above due to timing of the labor day weekend. There has been no improvement in rail freight traffic in 09 that cannot be account for by seasonality.
rail freight cont.
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