AAR: Intermodal Strength Again Boosts Weekly Rail Traffic

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
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Total U.S. rail traffic was 528,547 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Jan. 16, 2021—up 5.8% compared with the same week last year, building upon intermodal’s continued strength, the Association of American Railroads reported on Jan. 20..

While total carloads of 232,550 dropped 2% vs. the same week in 2020, intermodal volume of 295,997 containers and trailers grew 12.8% vs. 2020.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posting an increase compared with the same week in 2020 included: grain, up 8,246 carloads, to 27,613; metallic ores and metals, up 1,715 carloads, to 23,325; and farm products, excluding grain, and food, up 1,621 carloads, to 16,818. Commodity groups posting decreases included coal, down 12,609 carloads, to 57,665; nonmetallic minerals, down 4,411 carloads, to 25,582; and miscellaneous carloads, down 402 carloads, to 9,755.

For the first two weeks of 2021, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 467,954 carloads, falling 1.8% from the same point last year; and 585,846 intermodal units, rising 11.6% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first two weeks of 2021 was 1,053,800 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 5.2% compared with last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Jan. 16, 2021, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 340,432 carloads, up 4.2% vs. the same week last year, and 386,001 intermodal units, up 12.9% vs. last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic was 726,433 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.6%. North American rail volume for the first two weeks of 2021 was 1,435,809 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.8% compared with 2020.

Canadian railroads reported 86,133 carloads for the week, increasing 23.9%, and 74,486 intermodal units, rising 21.3% vs. the same week in 2020. For the first two weeks of 2021, they reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 312,017 carloads and containers and trailers, up 11.3%.

Mexican railroads reported 21,749 carloads for the week, an increase of 8.4% vs. the same week last year, and 15,518 intermodal units, a decline of 14.4%. Cumulative volume for the first two weeks of 2021 was 69,992 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, a decrease of 7.7% from the same point last year.

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