WASHINGTON — The U.S. rail traffic slump continued in the week ending March 25, with volume down 7.5% compared to the same week in 2022, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
Total traffic was 469,958 carloads and intermodal units. That included 236,526 carloads, down 0.2% from the corresponding week a year ago, and 233,432 containers and trailers, down 13.9%.
Traffic has been down in each of the 12 weeks so far this year; the 12-week total has carload traffic down 0.3% and intermodal traffic down 10%, for an overall decrease of 5.4%. Weekly traffic is averaging 462,469 carloads and intermodal units.
North American totals for the week, for 12 reporting U.S., Canadian,and Mexican railroads, include 342,431 carloads, up 2.7%, and 309,347 intermodal units, down 11.9%. The combined traffic of 651,778 carloads and intermodal units is a 4.8% decrease from the same week in 2022. The year-to-date total for North America is down 3.4% compared to the first 12 weeks in 2022.
