U.S. Rail Traffic Continues to Increase

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported that U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 21, 2018, totaled 553,024 carloads and intermodal units, a 4.9 percent increase compared to the same week in 2017.

U.S. carloads, which totaled 265,338 for the week, were up 3.8 percent compared to the same week last year. U.S. intermodal volume for the week totaled 287,686 units, an increase of 5.9 percent compared to 2017.

Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups that are tracked by the AAR posted an increase for the week ending July 21, 2018, when compared with the same week in 2017. Grain increased 3,359 carloads to 23,767, and petroleum and petroleum products were up 2,009 carloads to 11,102. Chemicals increased by 1,785 carloads to 32,043.

Coal posted the largest decrease in the commodity groups, with a drop of 2,469 carloads to 85,865, followed by forest products with a decrease of 82 carloads to 10,313.

On the 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, combined North American rail volume for the week ending July 21, 2018, was 742,631 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.5 percent.