Latest weekly figure shows U.S. rail traffic down by 5.9%

Latest weekly figure shows U.S. rail traffic down by 5.9%

By Trains Staff | August 31, 2023

| Last updated on February 3, 2024


Drop is largest in several weeks

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus total intermodal volume
Association of American Railroads

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed its largest single-week drop in several weeks for the week ending Aug. 26, with volume down 5.9% compared to the same week in 2022.

The total volume of 472,525 carloads and intermodal units included 226,679 carloads, down 3.9% from the corresponding week a year ago, and 245,846 containers and trailers, off by 7.7%.

Year-to-date totals through 34 weeks of 2023 show carload traffic up 0.1% and intermodal units down 9.2% for an overall decrease of 4.9%.

North American totals for the week, from 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 327,192 carloads, down 3.4% from the same week a year ago, and 327,499 intermodal units, down 8.9%. The total of 543,691 carloads and intermodal units represents a 6.2% decrease. For the year to date, North American traffic is down 4.1% compared to the first 34 weeks of 2022.

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