News & Reviews News Wire Weekly U.S. rail volume remains below 2020 levels

Weekly U.S. rail volume remains below 2020 levels

By Trains Staff | October 21, 2021

| Last updated on April 6, 2024

Intermodal traffic continues to lag behind previous-year levels

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Weekly table of U.S. rail traffic by category
Association of American Railroads

WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic continues to slip compared to 2020, with the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads showing a 4.2% drop from the same week a year ago.

For the week ending Oct. 16, the overall volume of 496,983 carloads and intermodal units is, in addition to the decline compared to 2020, a 1.9% decline from the previous week in 2021, which saw a total volume of 506,642 carloads and intermodal units.

The latest week’s totals include 229,730 carloads, a 1.2% increase over the same week in 2020, while intermodal traffic was 267,253 units, an 8.5% decrease.

North American totals for the week, from 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, included 328,884 carloads, unchanged from a year ago, and 350,015 intermodal units, down 9.4%. The total traffic of 678,899 carloads and intermodal units was a 5.1% decrease.

Year-to-date volume remains 8.3% ahead of 2020, with an average weekly volume of 507,936 carloads and intermodal units. Carloads are up 7.6% and intermodal units are up 8.9%.

2 thoughts on “Weekly U.S. rail volume remains below 2020 levels

  1. Current Intermodal issue is related directly at the Ports of Entry. Lines of trucks and wellcars waiting for ships to be unloaded. Also, Government control of Customs, Immigration and Agriculture, regulate hours of operation. Under manning of Port Workers and Gov employees, because of Government work subsidies also bring delay.

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