WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remains ahead of 2020 figures, although week-to-week numbers showed a slight decline, perhaps reflecting traffic disruptions by fires on the West Coast.
For the week ending July 28, U.S. railroads moved 230,095 carloads (up 7.1% from the same week a year earlier), and 273,124 intermodal units (up 2.6%) for a total of 503,219 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.6%. A week earlier, for the seven-day period ending July 17, the carload and intermodal total was 513,255 units, making the latest figure a 1.9% decrease.
Seven of 10 carload categories showed increases in traffic; lagging most is motor vehicles and parts, down 29 percent from 2020 figures as a computer chip shortage continues to depress production.
For the year to date, through 29 weeks, carload traffic is up 9.2% over 2020 and intermodal traffic is up 15.8%, for a total volume increase of 12.7%.
Weekly North American totals, for 12 U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 327,084 carloads, up 6.7% over year-earlier figures; 360,421 intermodal units, up 2.7%; and a total of 687,516 carloads and units, up 3.6%. In Canada, the 75,240 carloads represented at 3.3% increase, while the 71,170 intermodal units marked a 0.8% increase.
