WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic remained above 2023 levels for the 13th straight week, but the margin is narrowing.
For the week ending April 20, total U.S. volume was 474,544 carloads and intermodal units, a 0.8% increase over the corresponding week a year earlier, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. That includes 216,945 carloads, down 6.7% compared to the same week in 2023, and 257,599 containers and trailers, up 8.2%.
Through 16 weeks of 2024, U.S. carload volume is down 4.6% while intermodal traffic is up 9.1%, leading to an overall increase of 2.3%.
North American traffic, from 10 reporting U.S, Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 330,830 carloads, down 4.1% from the same week in 2023, and 346,266 intermodal units, up 7.1%. The combined volume of 677,096 carloads and intermodal units represents a 1.3% increase, while year-to-date traffic is up 2.1% compared to the first 16 weeks of 2023.
Canadian traffic is up 0.3% for the year to date, while Mexican volume is up 9%.
