Canadian Pacific Kansas City was the fastest-growing railroad in the second quarter, with its overall volume up 6%.
CPKC’s (NYSE: CP) industry-leading growth was due to double-digit increases in intermodal (14%), grain (16%), and coal (10%), according to data from the Association of American Railroads.
Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) ranked second for the quarter, with its volume up 4% overall, led by a 31% increase in coal traffic and a 16% bump in grain volume.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) was third, with 3% growth for the quarter. Total 4% growth in merchandise traffic and a 13% gain in coal volume propelled NS’s gains.
BNSF Railway saw a 1.6% gain for the quarter. Coal volume was up 12%, leading all major traffic groups for the quarter.
CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) eked out a 0.5% volume gain, with intermodal up 2%, coal up 3.3%, and merchandise down 2%.
Canadian National’s (CN.TO) overall volume declined 1% for the quarter despite a 26% increase in grain traffic. Merchandise traffic sagged 4%, while coal volume was flat, and intermodal was up 1%.
Union Pacific (1%) and Norfolk Southern (4%) were the only Class I railroads to show growth in merchandise traffic.
Except for CPKC, intermodal growth was anemic: CSX and UP up 2%, CN and NS up 1%, and BNSF up 0.4%.
Four of the six systems also saw their coal traffic grow by double-digits during the quarter.
Overall, North American rail volume was up 3% for the quarter, with intermodal up 2%, merchandise down 1%, and coal and grain both up 6%.
Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.
Related coverage:
U.S. intermodal rail narrowly down
This new LA-NY passenger train will carry long-haul trucks, too
UK investor sees not one, but two, pathways to rail mergers
Drug busts at border ports in US, Canada top $31M; rail theft surging
Supply Chain AI Symposium
Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.
The Old Post • Chicago, IL Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now