WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic was up for the second consecutive week, compared to 2021, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
For the week ending Aug. 27, U.S. railroads handled 511,574 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.4% from the same week a year earlier. That figure included 242,633 carloads, up 3.4%, and 268,941 containers and trailers down 0.3%. Grain, up 12.9%, and motor vehicles and parts, up 9.9%, led the carload increase.
Through 34 weeks of 2022, carload traffic is up 0.1% while intermodal traffic is down 5.3%, for a total decline of 2.9% compared to the same period in 2021.
North American traffic for the week, for 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, was 700,579 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.5%. The total of 340,747 carloads represents a 2.4% increase, while the 359,intermodal units are a 0.7% increase over the corresponding week in 2021.
Year-to-date figures for North American have total rail traffic down 2.7% compared to a year ago.
