North American rail traffic up 25.1% for the week ending January 18

The Association of American Railroads or AAR, reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 18. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 500,160 carloads and intermodal units, up 25.9% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending January 18 were 216,457 carloads, up 25.1% compared with the same week in 2024, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 283,703 containers and trailers, up 26.5% compared to 2024. All of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included coal, up 11,698 carloads, to 59,223; chemicals, up 6,334 carloads, to 34,150; and nonmetallic minerals, up 6,001 carloads, to 24,622. North American rail volume for the week ending January 18, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 323,633 carloads, up 22.9% compared with the same week last year, and 368,180 intermodal units, up 27% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 691,813 carloads and intermodal units, up 25.1%. North American rail volume for the first three weeks of 2025 was 1,928,692 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.9% compared with 2024. Publicly traded companies in the space include CN (CNI), CSX (CSX), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Union Pacific (UNP), FreightCar America (RAIL), Greenbrier (GBX), Trinity Industries (TRN), Wabtec (WAB) and Rail Vision (RVSN)…