U.S. rail traffic was up for the week ending Feb. 8, the fifth time in six weeks of 2025 that volume has shown a gain over 2024 levels.
According to the Association of American Railroads, traffic for the week was 502,449 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.7% increase over the same week in 2024. That figure included 218,393 carloads, down 0.7% from the same week a year ago, and 284,056 containers and trailers, a 7.4% increase.
For the year to date, carload volume is equal to 2024, while intermodal traffic is up 9.7%. The combined traffic of 2,857,828 carloads and intermodal units represents a 5.3% increase compared to the first six weeks of 2024.
North American volume, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, includes 315,173 carloads, a 4.7% drop from the same week in 2024, and 364,946 intermodal units, a 5.3% increase. The combined total of 680,119 carloads and intermodal units represents a 0.4% increase.
North American volume through six weeks is up 4.4% compared to the same period in 2024. That includes a 3.6% increase in Canada and a 7.4% drop in Mexico.
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