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3/9/2023
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

AAR: U.S. rail volumes continue downward slide

U.S. rail traffic further slipped in 2023’s ninth week, according to data from the Association of American Railroads. For the week ending March 4, railroads reported 474,191 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.3% compared with the same week a year ago.

Carloads totaled 237,413, down 1%, and intermodal volume totaled 236,778 containers and trailers, down 11.1%.

Carload commodity groups that posted year-over-year increases included coal, up 3,612 carloads to 72,903; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,320 carloads to 10,523; and motor vehicles and parts, up 995 carloads to 14,264.

Groups that registered declines included grain, down 4,309 carloads to 20,522; nonmetallic minerals, down 1,312 carloads to 31,204; and metallic ores and minerals, down 1,244 carloads to 19,124.

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