AAR provides latest update on US rail traffic data

For the week, total US weekly rail traffic was 483 656 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.7% compared with the same week in 2023.

Total carloads for the week ending 24 February were 224 251 carloads, up 2.6% compared with the same week in 2023, while US weekly intermodal volume was 259 405 containers and trailers, up 12.6% compared to 2023.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included chemicals, up 2776 carloads, to 33 454; grain, up 2470 carloads, to 21 698; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2196 carloads, to 15 931. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 were coal, down 2561 carloads, to 61 556; nonmetallic minerals, down 1968 carloads, to 27 533; and forest products, down 150 carloads, to 8460.

For the first eight weeks of 2024, US railroads reported cumulative volume of 1 690 310 carloads, down 4.6% from the same point in 2023; and 1 983 594 intermodal units, up 7.4% from 2023. Total combined US traffic for the first eight weeks of 2024 was 3 673 904 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 1.5% compared to 2023.

North American rail volume for the week ending 24 February 2024, on 12 reporting US, Canadian and Mexican railroads totalled 336 833 carloads, up 3.5% compared with the same week in 2023, and 341 906 intermodal units, up 10.8% compared with 2023. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 678 739 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.1%. North American rail volume for the first eight weeks of 2024 was 5 122 636 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.7% compared with 2023.

Canadian railroads reported 94 066 carloads for the week, up 5.8%, and 69 511 intermodal units, up 4.3% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first eight weeks of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1 233 049 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.8%.

Mexican railroads reported 18 516 carloads for the week, up 3.2% compared with the same week in 2023, and 12 990 intermodal units, up 14.0%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first eight weeks of 2024 was 215 683 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 6.8% from the same point in 2023.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/rail-barge/29022024/aar-provides-latest-update-on-us-rail-traffic-data/