RAIL TRAFFIC WEEK OF JULY 15, 2017 - Association of American Railroads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – July 19, 2017

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 15, 2017.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 540,005 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.8 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending July 15 were 262,869 carloads, up 0.3 percent compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 277,136 containers and trailers, up 7.4 percent compared to 2016.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They included nonmetallic minerals, up 14.3 percent to 40,764 carloads; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 4.1 percent to 16,567 carloads; and forest products, up 3.2 percent to 10,205 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 16.8 percent to 9,337 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 12.5 percent to 12,299 carloads; and grain, down 10.9 percent to 22,802 carloads.

For the first 28 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,191,823 carloads, up 6.0 percent from the same point last year; and 7,393,388 intermodal units, up 2.9 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 28 weeks of 2017 was 14,585,211 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.4 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending July 15, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 354,240 carloads, up 2.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and 355,958 intermodal units, up 8.5 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 710,198 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.3 percent. North American rail volume for the first 28 weeks of 2017 was 19,325,658 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.6 percent compared with 2016.

Canadian railroads reported 75,047 carloads for the week, up 10.7 percent, and 67,033 intermodal units, up 13.7 percent compared with the same week in 2016. For the first 28 weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,985,562 carloads, containers and trailers, up 11.6 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 16,324 carloads for the week, down 0.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 11,789 intermodal units, up 7 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 28 weeks of 2017 was 754,885 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 1.4 percent from the same point last year.

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For more information contact: AAR Media Relations at media@aar.org or 202-639-2345.

About AAR: The AAR is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak.