Association of American Railroads

(Union Pacific Photograph)

AAR: Carloads Down, Intermodal Up for Week 10

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 9, 2024 (Week 10) was up 5% from the prior-year period, as intermodal gains more than offset carload losses, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest report.

Jennifer Homendy
Commentary

NTSB’s Top Cop: ‘Accept Fact-Based Science or Hit the Road, Jack’

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE, MARCH 2024 ISSUE: National Transportation Board (NTSB) Chairperson Jennifer Esposito Homendy can be a pain in the neck, and elsewhere. Celebrate that tenacity. It assuredly saves what cannot be calculated—injuries not suffered and lives not lost in preventable transportation mishaps.

CN photo

AAR: February Data Shows Elements That ‘Inspire Optimism, Call for Caution’

“In February, U.S. rail traffic recovered from disruptions caused by severe winter weather in January. However, a closer look at February’s rail traffic data shows elements that inspire optimism and elements that call for caution,” said Association of American Railroad’s (AAR) newly appointed Chief Economist Dr. Rand Ghayad.

(Photograph Courtesy of Norfolk Southern)

AAR: Carload, Intermodal Upticks for Week 8

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 24, 2024 (Week 8), came in at 483,656 carloads and intermodal units, rising 7.7% from the same week last year, based on 224,251 carloads—up 2.6% from 2023—and intermodal volume of 259,405 containers and trailers—up 12.6%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Feb. 28.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Flat Through Week 7

Through the first seven weeks of 2024 (ending Feb. 17), total North American carload and intermodal traffic was down 0.2%—virtually flat—compared with the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Feb. 21 report. While Mexico saw a gain, Canada experienced a decline and U.S. traffic was virtually flat.

NS, SMART-TD and BLET on Feb. 15 signed an agreement to participate in FRA’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). Pictured: SMART-TD officers flank TD President Jeremy R. Ferguson (center), NS President and CEO Alan Shaw (left of Ferguson) and FRA Administrator Amit Bose (right of Ferguson) at the signing ceremony in Atlanta. (Photograph Courtesy of SMART-TD, NS)
  • News

NS: First Class I to Participate in FRA C3RS (UPDATED 2/16)

Norfolk Southern (NS) on Feb. 15 formally signed an agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Transportation Division

(Norfolk Southern Photograph)

North American Rail Volume Flat Through Week 6, AAR

Through the first six weeks of 2024 (ending Feb. 10), total North American carload and intermodal traffic was down 0.8%—virtually flat—compared with the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Feb. 14 report. While Mexico saw a gain, Canada experienced a decline and U.S. traffic was virtually flat.