RAIL TRAFFIC WEEK OF JUNE 17, 2017 - Association of American Railroads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – June 21, 2017

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 17, 2017.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 543,179 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.2 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending June 17 were 266,402 carloads, up 6.2 percent compared with the same week in 2016, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 276,777 containers and trailers, up 4.3 percent compared to 2016.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2016. They included nonmetallic minerals, up 15.5 percent to 39,654 carloads; coal, up 15.1 percent to 87,066 carloads; and chemicals, up 5.7 percent to 31,288 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 12.4 percent to 9,326 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 8.1 percent to 17,189 carloads; and grain, down 4.6 percent to 21,677 carloads.

For the first 24 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,165,596 carloads, up 6.8 percent from the same point last year; and 6,335,475 intermodal units, up 2.5 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2017 was 12,501,071 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.6 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending June 17, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 363,399 carloads, up 8.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 356,805 intermodal units, up 6.8 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 720,204 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.6 percent. North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2017 was 16,564,178 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.7 percent compared with 2016.

Canadian railroads reported 78,763 carloads for the week, up 17.1 percent, and 67,962 intermodal units, up 17.8 percent compared with the same week in 2016. For the first 24 weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,418,962 carloads, containers and trailers, up 11.6 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 18,234 carloads for the week, up 6.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 12,066 intermodal units, up 10 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 24 weeks of 2017 was 644,145 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.