The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported that U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 9, 2019, totaled 519,779 carloads and intermodal units, a 0.1 percent increase compared to the same week in 2018.
U.S. carloads, which totaled 242,266 for the week, were down 3.3 percent compared to the same week last year. U.S. intermodal volume for the week totaled 277,513 units, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to 2018.
Three of the 10 carload commodity groups that are tracked by the AAR posted an increase for the week ending February 9, 2019, when compared with the same week in 2018. Petroleum and petroleum products increased 2,420 carloads to 12,740, and grain increased 1,685 carloads to 20,720. Motor vehicles and parts were up 363 carloads to 17,069.
Coal posted the largest decrease in the commodity groups, with a drop of 9,107 carloads to 75,864. Farm products excluding grain, and food, decreased 1,242 carloads, to 15,063.
On the 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, combined North American rail volume for the week ending February 9, 2019, was 686,566 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.9 percent.