WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic declined 2.2% in the week ending Sept. 20 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported today.
Total carloads were down 1.8% compared with the same week in 2024, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was down 2.5% compared to 2024.
Two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They were grain and metallic ores and metals. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included coal; miscellaneous carloads; and nonmetallic minerals.
For the first 38 weeks of 2025, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,423,372 carloads, up 2.2% from the same point last year; and 10,289,962 intermodal units, up 3.6% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 38 weeks of 2025 was 18,713,334 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending Sept. 20 on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 330,479 carloads, down 2.6% compared with the same week last year, and 366,778 intermodal units, down 1.2% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 697,257 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.8%. North American rail volume for the first 38 weeks of 2025 was up 2.4% compared with 2024.
Canadian carloads were down 2.8% for the week, while intermodal volume increased 4.2%. For the first 38 weeks of 2025, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume was up 2.1%.
Mexican railroads reported 11,954 carloads for the week, down 13.1% compared with the same week last year, and 12,006 intermodal units, down 0.2%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 38 weeks of 2025 was 894,870 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 7.5% from the same point last year.
