U.S. rail traffic remains below 2021 levels

WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remains below 2021 levels in the latest statistics released by the Association of American Railroads.

For the week ending March 26, total rail traffic was 504,817 carloads and intermodal units. That is down 3.2% compared to the same week in 2021, and a greater drop than the 2.7% decrease for the week ending March 19. The total volume, however was more than previous week of 2022 (499,362 carloads and intermodal units) and remains ahead of 2022’s weekly average of 487,904.

The latest figures include 233,555 carloads, an increase of 0.5%, and 271,262 intermodal  units, a decrease of 6.2%. The totals for the first 12 weeks of 2022 have carloads up 2.8% and intermodal down 7%, for a total decrease of 2.7%.

North American totals for the week ending March 26, from 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 330,751 carloads, down 1.7% from the corresponding week in 2021; 352,549 intermodal units, down 6.9%; and total volume of 683,300 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.5%. Year-to-date totals show total traffic down 4%.