U.S. rail traffic totaled 526,471 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending March 25, 2017, up 12% compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported on March 29. Canadian and Mexican carriers also realized big gains.
Total U.S. carloads for the week ending March 25 were 260,897 carloads, up 12.4% compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 265,574 containers and trailers, up 11.6% compared to 2016.
Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They included grain, up 21.8% to 23,312 carloads; coal, up 19.8% to 79,422 carloads; and metallic ores and metals, up 15.8% to 22,248 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 were motor vehicles and parts, down 1.5% to 18,390 carloads; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 1.4% to 10,591 carloads.
For the first 12 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,064,382 carloads, up 5.5% from the same point last year; and 3,119,735 intermodal units, up 1.1% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 12 weeks of 2017 was 6,184,117 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.2% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending March 25, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 357,200 carloads, up 12.9% compared with the same week last year, and 337,745 intermodal units, up 14% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 694,945 carloads and intermodal units, up 13.4%. North American rail volume for the first 12 weeks of 2017 was 8,173,778 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1% compared with 2016.
Canadian railroads reported 80,295 carloads for the week, up 13.1%, and 62,580 intermodal units, up 21.7% compared with the same week in 2016. For the first 12 weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,674,268 carloads, containers and trailers, up 8.6%.
Mexican railroads reported 16,008 carloads for the week, up 20.6% compared with the same week last year, and 9,591 intermodal units, up 36.8%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 12 weeks of 2017 was 315,393 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 0.6% from the same point last year.