WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic’s year-end slump continued in the week ending Dec. 24, with volume down 4.8% compared to the same week in 2021, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
The overall figure of 400,289 carloads and intermodal units included 193,195 carloads, down 4.1%, and 207,094 trailers, down 5.5%.
This week’s decline followed weekly drops of 2.5% for the week ending Dec. 10 and 5.5% for the week ending Dec. 17.
Year-to-date totals, through 51 weeks of 2022, show carload traffic down 0.1% and intermodal traffic off 4.9% for a total decline of 2.75.
North American figures for the week, for 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 278,859 carloads, down 3.5% compared to the corresponding week in 2021; 268,287 intermodal units, down 6.7%, and total traffic of 547,146 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.1%. Year-to-date volume is down 1.9%.
Good question, Troy Staten …..
These charts are always interesting to me but I do wonder if they take into account the various “Embargos” that UP and other big railroads have put into affect.