U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues

For the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, total U.S. rail traffic came in at 511,574 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.4% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Aug. 31. It is the second consecutive week that carload gains have offset intermodal declines.

(Photograph Courtesy of Norfolk Southern)

Rail Traffic Uptick for Week 33

For the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, U.S. rail traffic was up 0.1% over the same week last year; total carloads came in 2.9% higher while intermodal volume continued its downward trend, dipping 2.4%, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Aug. 24 report.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 32 Weeks

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) now has 32 weeks of traffic data for 2022 (ending Aug. 13). Total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 2.9% from the same point last year—with decreases in the U.S. and Canada, and an increase in Mexico.

Carloads, Intermodal Down Through Week 31

U.S. carloads and intermodal traffic declined for Week 31 (the week ending Aug. 6, 2022), the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Aug. 10, with intermodal dropping more than carload.Traffic also declined cumulatively for the year’s first 31 weeks.

U.S. Rail Traffic: July Provides No ‘Definitive Evidence’ on State of Economy

“Rail traffic in July was evenly balanced between commodities with carload gains and those with carload declines,” Association of American Railroads Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported on Aug. 3.

Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio-12)

Rail Employee Training Modernization Act Debuts

Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio-12) on July 29 introduced the Rail Employee Training Modernization Act, which would allow railroads to utilize virtual instruction modules to speed the process of moving new hires through

STB Issues Final Rule on URCS Data Reporting

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted a final rule “to codify a longstanding voluntary practice” in which Class I railroads, through the Association of American Railroads (AAR), have annually reported tare weight and loss and damage data for use in the STB’s Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS).

(Photograph Courtesy of CSX)

AAR: Carloads Up, Intermodal Down for Week 29

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 23, 2022 (Week 29) was 498,901 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.8% from the same week last year. Total carloads were 232,565, up 1.1%, while U.S. intermodal volume of 266,336 containers and trailers dipped 2.5% compared with the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads reported on July 27.

FRA Issues Crew Size NPRM; AAR Calls it ‘Politics Over Sound Safety Policy’

The Federal Railroad Administration on July 27 issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on train crew size that basically mandates a minimum of two people in the locomotive cab, with limited exceptions. The Association of American Railroads, echoing many industry observers, is calling the potential rule a politically motivated move with “a complete absence of safety justification.” The NPRM (downloadable below) also applies to most passenger trains that come under FRA jurisdiction.

AAR: Carloads, Intermodal Fall in Week 28

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 16, 2022 (Week 28) was 498,899 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.8% from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ July 20 report.

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