AAR reports on marginally increased rail traffic

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included chemicals, up 2858 carloads, to 29 083; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 1199 carloads, to 16 362; and grain, up 1083 carloads, to 21 667. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 included coal, down 2190 carloads, to 61 747; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1662 carloads, to 24 312.

For the first week of 2024, US railroads reported cumulative volume of 208 176 carloads, up 0.9% from the same point last year; and 209 081 intermodal units, up 3.7% from last year. Total combined US traffic for the first week of 2024 was 417 257 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.3% compared to 2023.

North American rail volume for the week ending January 6, 2024, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totalled 307 010 carloads, up 1.3% compared with the same week in 2023, and 304 136 intermodal units, up 12.5% compared with 2023. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 611 146 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.6%. North American rail volume for the first week of 2024 was 611 146 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.6% compared with 2023.

Canadian railroads reported 85 204 carloads for the week, up 2.2% , and 59 601 intermodal units, down 1.5% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first week of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 144 805 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.7%.

Mexican railroads reported 13 630 carloads for the week, up 2.5% compared with the same week during 2023, and 35 454 intermodal units, up 329.9%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first week of 2024 was 49 084 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 127.8%.