The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on January 15, 2015 increased U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 10, 2015.

Total cumulative U.S. weekly rail traffic for the first full week of 2015 was 517,520 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.9 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads were at 276,573 up 7.5 percent compared with the same week in 2014 while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 240,947 containers and trailers, up 2.1 percent compared the same week in 2014.

Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2014, led by Coal, up 108,449 carloads or 4.2 percent; Nonmetallic Minerals, up 30,742 or 22 percent; Chemicals, up 30,425 carloads or 7 per cent; and Metallic Ores and Metals, up 23,699 or 17.6 percent. Of the two commodity groups that posted a decrease compared with the same week in 2014, Farm Products (excluding grain and food) was down 16,322 carloads or 1.7 percent.

North American rail volume for the week ending Jan. 10, 2015 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 366,454 carloads, up 8.1 percent compared with the same week last year, and 306,852 intermodal units, up 4.3 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 673,306 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.4 percent.

Canadian railroads reported 74,742 carloads for the week, up 11.5 percent, and 56,125 intermodal units, up 16.1 percent compared with the same week in 2014. For the first full week of 2015, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 130,867 carloads and intermodal units, up 13.4 percent from the same point last year.

Mexican railroads reported 15,139 carloads for the week, up 4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 9,780 intermodal units, slightly up 0.5 percent. Total traffic on Mexican railroads for the week ending Jan. 10, 2015 was 24,919 carloads and containers and trailers, up 2.6 percent compared with the same week last year.

(Source: AAR)