WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic in May saw carload traffic at its highest level in more than 18 months, based on weekly averages, according to the latest press release from the Association of American Railroads.
Overall, carload traffic in May 2021 was up 30.4% over the same month in 2020, while intermodal traffic was up 26.2%, leading to a combined volume increase of 28%. The comparisons to 2020 continue to be skewed by the traffic drop in 2020 resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray called traffic figures for the month “encouraging,” saying, “Total carloads were the most for any month since October 2019 on a weekly average basis. … Meanwhile, intermodal just had the best January to May period ever for U.S. railroads. Railroads hope to build on these gains in the months ahead as they help the economy return to strong, sustainable growth.”
Year-to-date totals show carloads up 73%, intermodal traffic up 19.2%, and total traffic up 13.6%.
For the week ending May 29, the total of 530,226 carloads and intermodal units represented a 34% increase, with the 243,304 carloads representing a gain of 35.3% and the 286,921 containers and trailers marking a 33% increase.
North American totals for the week, from 12 U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, included 341,112 carloads, up 28.1% over the same week in 2020, and 376,227 intermodal units, also up 28.1%.
