Weekly U.S. rail traffic remains down

Weekly U.S. rail traffic remains down

By Trains Staff | March 30, 2023

| Last updated on February 5, 2024


Traffic has been below 2022 levels every week in 2023

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

WASHINGTON — The U.S. rail traffic slump continued in the week ending March 25, with volume down 7.5% compared to the same week in 2022, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.

Total traffic was 469,958 carloads and intermodal units. That included 236,526 carloads, down 0.2% from the corresponding week a year ago, and 233,432 containers and trailers, down 13.9%.

Traffic has been down in each of the 12 weeks so far this year; the 12-week total has carload traffic down 0.3% and intermodal traffic down 10%, for an overall decrease of 5.4%. Weekly traffic is averaging 462,469 carloads and intermodal units.

North American totals for the week, for 12 reporting U.S., Canadian,and Mexican railroads, include 342,431 carloads, up 2.7%, and 309,347 intermodal units, down 11.9%. The combined traffic of 651,778 carloads and intermodal units is a 4.8% decrease from the same week in 2022. The year-to-date total for North America is down 3.4% compared to the first 12 weeks in 2022.

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