WASHINGTON — The well-established pattern for U.S. rail traffic continued for the week ending April 6: carload traffic was down compared to the same week in 2023, while intermodal traffic was up.
Overall, that added up to 450,142 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.6% increase compared with the corresponding week a year ago, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Railroads moved 209,142 carloads, down 4.5%, while intermodal volume was 241,000 units, up 7.6%. It was the 11th straight week of overall gains compared to 2023.
Through 14 weeks of 2024, carload traffic is down 4.2% while intermodal volume is up 9%, for an overall increase of 2.5% compared to the same period a year ago.
North American traffic, as reported by 10 U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, included 321,182 carloads, down 1.3% compared to the same week last year, and 326,417 intermodal units, up 11.2%. The combined volume of 647,599 carloads and intermodal units represents a 4.6% increase. Through 14 weeks, overall North American volume is up 2.2%; Canadian volume in that period is down 0.1% while Mexican traffic is up 11.7%.
