U.S. Intermodal Rail Traffic Hits Weekly Record High

The Association of American Railroads reported increased U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 14, with 295,132 total carloads, up 2.2% compared with the same week last year.

This was the highest week in history for total U.S. intermodal volume, reaching 270,243 units, up 6.3% compared with the same week last year. Total combined U.S. weekly rail traffic was 565,375 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1% compared with the same week last year.

For the first 24 weeks of 2014, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,858,695 carloads, up 3.2% compared with the same point last year, and 6,105,121 intermodal units, up 5.8% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2014 was 12,963,816 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.4% from last year.

For the first 24 weeks of 2014, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,864,016 carloads, down 1.1% from the same point last year, and 1,328,204 intermodal units, up 5.8% from last year.

Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 24 weeks of 2014 was 369,415 carloads, up 1.9% from the same point last year, and 236,908 intermodal units, up 3.2% from last year.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2014 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, totaled 9,092,126 carloads, up 2.2%, compared with the same point last year, and 7,670,233 intermodal trailers and containers, up 5.8% compared with last year.