WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic remains stuck in a pattern it has displayed since August, with an increase in carload traffic more than offset by a drop in intermodal volume, leaving overall traffic below 2020 levels.
For the week ending Nov. 6, the specifics — as reported in the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads — show U.S. railroads originating 504,111 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.5% decrease over the corresponding week a year ago. That includes 235,585 carloads, up 3.1%, and 268,526 containers and trailers, down 8.6%.
The numbers also represent a 1.2% decrease from the week ending Oct. 30, 2021, when total traffic was 510,141 carloads and intermodal units.
Year-to-date figures, through 44 weeks, remain ahead of 2020 numbers. Total traffic, averaging 507,963 carloads per week, is up 7.5% over a year ago, with intermodal traffic up 7.6% and carloads up 7.4%.
The North American figures, for 12 U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, had overall traffic at 690,458 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.3% decrease from the same week in 2020. The 334,304 carloads were a 2% increase; the 356,154 intermodal units were a 7.8% decline.
