AAR publishes weekly rail traffic data

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) published U.S. rail traffic data Wednesday from the week that ended with Dec. 5.

The cumulative weekly rail traffic for this week amounted to 542,050 intermodal units and carloads. This is a decrease of 6.6 percent when compared to the same time in 2014. Cumulative carloads amount to 271,1774 carloads for this week, showing a decrease of 12.9 percent when compared to the same time last year.

For intermodal volume, the total amounts to 270,276 trailers, displaying an increase of 0.8 percent compared to the same week last year.

For this week, two out of the total 10 carload commodity groups reported a rise when comparing the figures to the same time last year. Miscellaneous carloads rose to 9,063 carloads or 15.5 percent. Motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts rose to 19,025 carloads or 1.8 percent.

There were also declines in commodity groups during the same week: coal fell to 92,820 carloads or 21.8 percent, metals and metallic ores decreased to 21,318 carloads or 24.6 percent and petroleum and its related products declined to 13,589 carloads or 14.4 percent.

During this year’s first 48 weeks, there was a total volume amounting to 13,318,535 carloads for U.S. railroads. This was a 5.3 percent decrease compared to the first 48 weeks of 2014.