WASHINGTON — U.S. railroads continue to show significant traffic increases over pandemic-depressed figures from 2020, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads.
Statistics for the week ending May 15 show U.S. railroads moved 242,806 carloads, a 31.6% increase over the corresponding week in 2020, and 291,066 containers and trailers, a 25.6% increase. That equates to 533,872 carloads and intermodal units, a 28.3% percent increase in total traffic over year-earlier figures.
The figures also remain relatively stable from week-to-week within 2021, with the latest figures showing slight increases over the week ending May 8 in carloads (up 6,787), intermodal units (up 3,776) and total carloads and intermodal units (up 10,563).
For the year to date, total carloads are up 4% and intermodal units are up 18.1%, for a total increase in traffic of 11.3%.
Totals for 12 U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads show 341,527 carloads, a 29% increase over the same week in 2020; 384,770 intermodal units, up 22.7%, and total volume of 726,297 carloads and intermodal units, up 25.8%. Railroads in Canada moved 78,290 carloads, up 21.6%, and 77,499 intermodal units, up 15.9%.
Seems like they should be doing a 2021 over 2019 review for the next several months.