Intermodal climbs higher in weekly carloads

The Association of American Railroads reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 18 of 554,066 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.2%, compared with the same week in 2016.

Carloads totaled 266,927 units, down 1.6%, while intermodal volume was 287,139 containers and trailers, up 3.9% from the same week a year ago.

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase. They included metallic ores and metals, 23.7%; nonmetallic minerals, 10.6%, and chemicals, 4.4%. Commodity groups that posted decreases included grain, 14.9%; coal, 9%, and petroleum and petroleum products, 8%.

For the first 46 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 11,969,281 carloads, up 3%, and 12,420,150 intermodal units, up 3.7% from the year-ago period. Total combined U.S. traffic was 24,389,431 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.4%.

North American rail volume for the week on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 363,131 carloads, down 1.4%, and 367,840 intermodal units, up 4.9%. Total combined traffic in North America was 730,971 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.7%. North American rail volume for the first 46 weeks of 2017 was 32,358,665 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.7% on-year.

Canadian railroads reported 79,822 carloads for the week, down 2.5%, and 68,407 intermodal units, up 8.5% compared with the same week in 2016. For the first 46 weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 6,704,658 carloads, containers and trailers, up 10.8%.

Mexican railroads reported 16,382 carloads for the week, up 9.7% compared with the same week a year ago, and 12,294 intermodal units, up 10.3%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 46 weeks of 2017 was 1,264,576 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 1.4% on-year.