For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 558,098 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1 percent compared with the same week last year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Total carloads for the week ending June 16 were 269,748 carloads, up 1.9 percent compared with the same week in 2017, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 288,350 containers and trailers, up 6.3 percent compared to 2017.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2017. They included petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,924 carloads, to 11,256; nonmetallic minerals, up 1,827 carloads, to 39,994; and grain, up 1,407 carloads, to 23,086. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2017 were coal, down 1,420 carloads, to 85,538; miscellaneous carloads, down 1,287 carloads, to 9,443; and motor vehicles and parts, down 300 carloads, to 16,891.

For the first 24 weeks of 2018, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,208,034 carloads, up 1.3 percent from the same point last year; and 6,571,354 intermodal units, up 6 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2018 was 12,779,388 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending June 16, 2018, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 376,555 carloads, up 2.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 375,718 intermodal units, up 4.9 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 752,273 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.7 percent. North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2018 was 17,225,919 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.2 percent compared with 2017.

Canadian railroads reported 84,254 carloads for the week, up 7 percent, and 69,872 intermodal units, up 3.1 percent compared with the same week in 2017. For the first 24 weeks of 2018, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,533,133 carloads, containers and trailers, up 3.5 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 22,553 carloads for the week and 17,496 intermodal units. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 24 weeks of 2018 was 913,398 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers.

nd chemicals, up 5.7 percent to 31,288 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2016 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 12.4 percent to 9,326 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 8.1 percent to 17,189 carloads; and grain, down 4.6 percent to 21,677 carloads.

For the first 24 weeks of 2017, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,165,596 carloads, up 6.8 percent from the same point last year; and 6,335,475 intermodal units, up 2.5 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2017 was 12,501,071 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.6 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending June 17, 2017, on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 363,399 carloads, up 8.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 356,805 intermodal units, up 6.8 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 720,204 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.6 percent. North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2017 was 16,564,178 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.7 percent compared with 2016.

Canadian railroads reported 78,763 carloads for the week, up 17.1 percent, and 67,962 intermodal units, up 17.8 percent compared with the same week in 2016. For the first 24 weeks of 2017, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,418,962 carloads, containers and trailers, up 11.6 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 18,234 carloads for the week, up 6.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 12,066 intermodal units, up 10 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 24 weeks of 2017 was 644,145 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 1.4 percent from the same point last year.