U.S. rail volume remains steady, thanks to intermodal traffic

(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/18/2021)

U.S. freight railroads moved 480,483 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Feb. 13, up 0.3% compared with the same week in 2020, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Carloads declined 7% to 211,420 units, while intermodal volume climbed 6.9% to 269,063 containers and trailers.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks every week posted an increase. They included grain, chemicals and forest products. Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, nonmetallic minerals, and motor vehicles and parts.

Individual Class Is posted the following carload volumes for the week compared with the same period in 2020: BNSF Railway Co., 76,221 carloads, down from 89,434; Canadian Pacific, 29,250, down from 33,408; CN, 52,805, down from 56,761; CSX, 61,495, down from 64,444; Kansas City Southern, 13,023, down from 14,640; Norfolk Southern Railway, 52,828, down from 55,590; and Union Pacific Railroad, 79,319, down from 85,141.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 69,222 carloads for the week, down 8.4%, and 64,581 intermodal units, up 18.3%. Mexican railroads reported 20,542 carloads, down 7.8%, and 17,546 intermodal units, down 9.7%.

For the first six weeks of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020:
• U.S. railroads logged 3,079,821 carloads and intermodal units, up 4%;
• Canadian railroads reported 902,756 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.4%
• Mexican railroads posted 198,911 carloads and intermodal units, down 14.1%; and
• North American rail volume was 4,181,488 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3%.