WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic continued its winning streak in a big way for the week ending Dec. 16, showing a 7.6% increase in volume compared to the same week a year ago.
It is the sixth straight week that traffic has shown gains over the corresponding week in 2022.
According to figures from the Association of American Railroads, overall traffic was 502,583 carloads and intermodal units. That included 234,449 carloads, up 6.5% over the same week in 2022, and 268,134 trailers and containers, up 8.6%.
Year-to-date figures, through 50 weeks of 2023, show carload traffic up 0.3% compared to the same period in 2022, while intermodal traffic is down 5.5%, for an overall decline of 2.8%.
North American statistics, from 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 347,850 carloads, up 4.7% over the same week a year ago, and 352,485 intermodal units, up 6.7%. The combined total of 700,345 carloads and intermodal units represents a 5.7% increase. Overall North American volume through 50 weeks of 2023 is down 2.7% compared to 2022.
AAR should release 4-week moving average data. One week doesn’t indicate a trend.