Latest weekly figure shows U.S. rail traffic down by 5.9%

Drop is largest in several weeks

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WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed its largest single-week drop in several weeks for the week ending Aug. 26, with volume down 5.9% compared to the same week in 2022.

The total volume of 472,525 carloads and intermodal units included 226,679 carloads, down 3.9% from the corresponding week a year ago, and 245,846 containers and trailers, off by 7.7%.

Year-to-date totals through 34 weeks of 2023 show carload traffic up 0.1% and intermodal units down 9.2% for an overall decrease of 4.9%.

North American totals for the week, from 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, include 327,192 carloads, down 3.4% from the same week a year ago, and 327,499 intermodal units, down 8.9%. The total of 543,691 carloads and intermodal units represents a 6.2% decrease. For the year to date, North American traffic is down 4.1% compared to the first 34 weeks of 2022.