WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed a slight decline for the week ending Nov. 5, after having displayed a slight uptick the previous week, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads.
The total volume of 502,106 carloads and intermodal units represented a 0.4% decline compared to the corresponding week in 2021. That included 243,276 carloads, up 3.2%, and 258,830 trailers and containers, down 3.6%. Carload traffic saw gains in seven of 10 categories tracked by the AAR, led by a 21% increase in motor vehicles and parts and a 11.4% climb in nonmetallic minerals.
Year-to-date totals, through 44 weeks, show carload traffic up 0.2% and intermodal units down 4.7% for a total decrease of 2.5%, with an average total weekly volume of 495,351 carloads and intermodal units.
North American totals for the week, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 346,035 carloads, up 2.9%, and 342,343 intermodal units, down 4.1%, for a total volume of 688,378 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.7%. Year-to-date North American volume is down 2%.
