US rail traffic ekes out another gain over 2024
According to the Association of American Railroads, traffic for the week was 488,709 carloads and intermodal units, a 0.7% gain over the same week in 2024. It marked the 13th consecutive week in which traffic has been above year-ago figures, but the smallest gain during that period.
The overall figure includes 226,091 carloads, up 3.8%, and 262,618 containers and trailers, a decrease of 1.8% compared to the corresponding week in 2024.
Gainers and decliners were evenly split for the week. Coal shipments topped all commodity increases, up 12.1%, followed by motor vehicles and parts, 4.1%, and nonmetallic minerals, 3.5%Through 21 weeks, 2025 volume is 10,280,643 carloads and intermodal units, a 4.9% gain over the same period in 2024. That includes 4,580,934 carloads, up 2.3%, and 5,699,709 intermodal units, up 4.9%.
North American traffic for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, was 675,811 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8% from the same week a year ago. That included 330,466 carloads, up 4.5%, and 345,345 containers and trailers, down 0.8%.
The year-to-date volume for North America is 14,173,143 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3% from the first 21 weeks of 2024. That includes 3,407,247 carloads and intermodal units in Canada, a gain of 0.7%, and 485,523 carloads and intermodal units in Mexico, a decrease of 10.1%.
Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.This railroad has 100 extra locomotives ready to handle a container surge
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