U.S. Rail Traffic Boost Continues in First Week of 2024
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
For the week ending Jan. 6, 2024 (Week 1), total U.S. rail traffic was 417,257 carloads and intermodal units, rising 2.3% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 10.
Total rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 6, 2024, comprised 208,176 carloads, up 0.9% from 2023, and 209,081 containers and trailers, up 3.7% from the same week last year, according to AAR.
Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included chemicals, up 2,858 carloads, to 29,083; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 1,199 carloads, to 16,362; and grain, up 1,083 carloads, to 21,667. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 were motor vehicles and parts, down 2,318 carloads, to 9,429; coal, down 2,190 carloads, to 61,747; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1,662 carloads, to 24,312.
Total combined U.S. traffic for the first week of 2024 was 417,257 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.3% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending Jan. 6, 2024, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 307,010 carloads, up 1.3% compared with the same week last year, and 304,136 intermodal units, up 12.5% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 611,146 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.6%. North American rail volume for the first week of 2024 was 611,146 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.6% compared with 2023.
Canadian railroads reported 85,204 carloads for the week, up 2.2%, and 59,601 intermodal units, down 1.5% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first week of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 144,805 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.7%.
Mexican railroads reported 13,630 carloads for the week, up 2.5% compared with the same week last year, and 35,454 intermodal units, up 329.9%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first week of 2024 was 49,084 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 127.8% from the same point last year.
