WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was up in July compared to the same month in 2023, the sixth straight month of gains in volume, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
Traffic for the week ending Aug. 3 was also ahead of the same week a year ago.
The monthly figures show U.S. railroads originated 1,073,191 carloads in July, down 2.1% from a year earlier, while moving 1,319,818 containers and trailers, an increase of 8.4%. The total of 2,393,009 carloads and intermodal units represented a 3.4% increase over July 2023. That followed a 3.8% increase in June [see “U.S. rail traffic again shows gains …,” Trains News Wire, July 4, 2024].
Through seven months, U.S. carload traffic in 2024 is down 4.1%, while intermodal traffic is up 8.6%.
Week ending Aug. 3
U.S. volume for the week was 498,807 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 5.7% from the corresponding week in 2023. That included 219,568 carloads, down 1.2% from the same week a year ago, and 279,239 intermodal units, up 11.8%.
North American volume for the week, from 10 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, included 322,520 carloads, down 1.2% from the same week a year ago, and 351,513 intermodal units, up 6.1%. The total volume of 674,033 carloads and intermodal units was a 2.5% increase from a year ago.
For the year to date, North American volume is up 2.3% compared to the first 31 weeks of 2023. That includes a 1.5% increase in Canada, and a 4.2% gain in Mexico.
