For the week ending on Aug. 19, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 554,021 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.4 percent compared to the same week in 2016, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) weekly rail traffic report.
The total number of carloads increase 0.8 percent compared to the same week last year, totaling 271,675. Weekly intermodal volume also increased to 282.346, up 8.6 percent compared to 2016.
The report also noted that five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared to the same week last year — coal rose by 8,391 carloads to a total of 97,873, nonmetallic materials rose by 3,220 carloads to a total of 40,109, and metallic ores and metals rose by 2,173 carloads to a total of 23,580.
While coal, nonmetallic and metallic ores rose during the week, a number of commodity groups posted decreases compared to the same week in 2016 including grain, which decreased by 7,031 carloads to a total of 17,913; motor vehicles and parts decreased by 2,346 carloads to a total of 16,626; and petroleum products decreased by 1,575 carloads to a total of 9,357.
For total North American rail volume on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads rose by 2.6 percent compared to 2016 to a total of 365,373 carloads. Intermodal units rose by 9.2 percent compared to 2016 to a total of 366,508.
The total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 731,881 carloads and intermodal units, representing a 5.8 percent rise from the same point the previous year.