U.S. rail traffic remains ahead of 2024 levels

U.S. rail traffic remains ahead of 2024 levels

By Trains Staff | April 10, 2025

| Last updated on August 6, 2025


Weekly volume up for sixth straight week

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remained ahead of 2024 levels in the week ending April 5, the sixth straight week of such gains and just the second showing a double-digit increase.

According to information from the Association of American Railroads, volume for the week was 500,584 carloads and intermodal units, an 11.2% increase over the same week a year ago. That includes 226,790 carloads, up 8.5%, and 273,794 containers and trailers, a 13.6% increase.

The only other week this year to see double-digit gains over 2024 levels was the week of Jan. 18, when traffic jumped 25.9% [see “U.S. weekly rail volume …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 23, 2025].

For the year to date, carload traffic is up 0.7% while intermodal volume is up 8.7%. The total of 6,816,848 carloads and intermodal units represents a 5% increase over the first 14 weeks of 2024.

North American volume for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, was 685,076 carloads and intermodal units, a 7% increase over the corresponding week in 2024. That includes 329,212 carloads, up 3.7%, and 335,865 intermodal units, up 10.3%.

North American volume through 14 weeks is 9,367,352 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3% compared to the same period a year ago. That includes a 0.1% increase in Canada and an 8.2% drop in Mexico.

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