The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 11 for the week ending January 7, 2017, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 441,417 carloads and intermodal units, down 11.4% compared with the same week last year.
Total carloads for the week ending January 7 were 221,146 carloads, down 7.7% compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 220,271 containers and trailers, down 14.9% compared to 2016.
Two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They were metallic ores and metals, up 5.4% to 20,403 carloads; and grain, up 0.9% to 21,476 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 32.1% to 8,903 carloads; farm products excl. grain, and food, down 18.4% to 13,802 carloads; and forest products, down 15.3% to 9,034 carloads.
For the first week of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 221,146 carloads, down 7.7% from the same point last year; and 220,271 intermodal units, down 14.9% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first week of 2017 was 441,417 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 11.4% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending January 7, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 302,333 carloads, down 6.5% compared with the same week last year, and 279,604 intermodal units, down 14.6% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 581,937 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.6%. North American rail volume for the first week of 2017 was 581,937 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.6% compared with 2016.
Canadian railroads reported 69,926 carloads for the week, up 1.9%, and 51,154 intermodal units, down 12.6% compared with the same week in 2016. For the first week of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 121,080 carloads, containers and trailers, down 4.8%.
Mexican railroads reported 11,261 carloads for the week, down 26.5% compared with the same week last year, and 8,179 intermodal units, down 16.5%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first week of 2017 was 19,440 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 22.6% from the same point last year.