Intermodal outpaces weekly carloads

The Association of American Railroads said U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 10 was 519,545 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6% from the same week a year ago.

Total carloads slid to 251,058 carloads, down 0.5%, while intermodal volume was 268,487 containers and trailers, up 3.7% on-year, AAR reported.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2017. They included nonmetallic minerals, 6.9%; chemicals, 4%, and metallic ores and metals, 5.2%.

Commodity groups declining were coal, 4.2%; motor vehicles and parts, 10.6%, and grain, 7%.

North American rail volume for the week on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 344,660 carloads, off 1.6% from the 2017 week, and 348,177 intermodal units, up 2.8%. Total traffic was 692,837 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.6%.

Canadian railroads reported 73,983 carloads for the week, down 3.1%, and 63,526 intermodal units, up 2.5%.

Mexican railroads reported 19,619 carloads for the week, down 8.9%, and 16,164 intermodal units, also off 8.9%.