WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic began the second half of 2024 the same way it ended the first half — with increased volume compared to 2023.
For the week ending July 6, U.S. railroads handed 421,817 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.3% increase over the same week a year earlier, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. That includes 195,030 carloads, down 1.2% from a year earlier, and 226,787 containers and trailers, a 7.6% increase.
Through 27 weeks, 2024 carload volume is down 4.4% while intermodal traffic is up 8.6%. Overall, traffic is up 2.3% compared to the same period in 2023.
The week’s North American totals, from 10 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 299,444 carloads, a 0.4% increase over the same week in 2023, and 304,920 intermodal units, a 16.7% gain. The overall volume of 604,364 carloads and intermodal units represents an 8% increase over the corresponding week a year ago.
For the year to date, North American volume is up 2.3% compared to the first 27 weeks of 2023. That includes a 1.6% gain in Canada and a 7.0% increase in Mexico.
