The AAR offers insight into US rail traffic

Total carloads for the week ending 13 April were 208 381 carloads, down 8.2% compared with the same week in 2023, while US weekly intermodal volume was 258 082 containers and trailers, up 11.0% compared to 2023.

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 1420 carloads, to 16 288; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1352 carloads, to 10 403; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 788 carloads, to 17 002. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 included coal, down 17 826 carloads, to 45 218; metallic ores and metals, down 3095 carloads, to 18 658; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1301 carloads, to 31 631.

For the first 15 weeks of 2024, US railroads reported cumulative volume of 3 191 350 carloads, down 4.5% from the same point in 2023; and 3 767 729 intermodal units, up 9.1% from 2023. Total combined US traffic for the first 15 weeks of 2024 was 6 959 079 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.4% compared to 2023.

North American rail volume for the week ending 13 April 2024, on 10 reporting US, Canadian and Mexican railroads totalled 318 299 carloads, down 6.3% compared with the same week in 2023, and 343 760 intermodal units, up 9.7% compared with 2023. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 662 059 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.4%. North American rail volume for the first 15 weeks of 2024 was 9 789 570 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.2% compared with 2023.

Canadian railroads reported 91 978 carloads for the week, down 2.9%, and 73 043 intermodal units, up 8.2% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first 15 weeks of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2 383 956 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0%.

Mexican railroads reported 17 940 carloads for the week, down 1.4% compared with the same week in 2023, and 12 635 intermodal units, down 4.9%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 15 weeks of 2024 was 446 535 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 10.5% from the same point in 2023.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/rail-barge/18042024/the-aar-offers-insight-into-us-rail-traffic/