WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic rebounded into positive territory compared to 2023 for the week ending Oct. 12, after falling below previous-year levels a week earlier.
According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, the week saw 505,033 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.6% from the same week in 2023. That included 222,003 carloads, down 1.3% from the same week a year ago, and 283,030 containers and trailers, up 5.9%.
A week ago, traffic was 2.5% below the same week in 2023, the first time volume had seen a drop compared to the previous year since January [see “Weekly U.S. rail traffic ends run in positive territory,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 10, 2024].
Through 41 weeks, carload volume is down 3.2% compared to the same period in 2023, while intermodal traffic is up 9.1%. The combined traffic represents a 3.1% increase from the first 41 weeks of 2023.
North American volume for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, includes 332,200 carloads, down 1.2% from the same week last year, and 364,671 intermodal units, up 4.5%. The total of 696,871 carloads and intermodal units is a 1.7% increase. Through 41 weeks of 2024, North American volume is up 2.4% compared to 2023; that includes a 0.1% increase in Canada and a 3% increase in Mexico.
