WASHINGTON — A significant drop in intermodal traffic was the catalyst for a decline in weekly U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 17, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
Overall traffic was 490,654 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.9% from the same week in 2021. That included 251,126 containers and trailers, a 7.3% drop, which more than offset the 239,258 carloads, a 2% increase. Carloads were boosted by an 18.7% increase in motor vehicles and parts.
Year-to-date totals, through 37 weeks of 2022, show overall traffic down 2.7% compared to the same point in 2021, with intermodal traffic down 5.1% and carload traffic up 0.3%. The weekly average through 37 weeks is 494,429 carloads and intermodal units.
North American totals for the week, from 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, totaled 683,629 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.8% from the same week in 2021. That included 342,034 carloads, up 3.5%,and 341,595 intermodal units, down 4.7%. Year-to-date total volume for North America is down 2.4% from the 37-week mark in 2021.
