The latest weekly US rail traffic report shows a significant decline in vehicle traffic, but interconnections remain strong.

According to the Association of American Railroads, traffic for the week ending Jan. 11, 2025, included 465,390 freight cars and intermodal vehicles, a 1.8 percent increase over the same week in 2024. These included 199,511 wagons, down 6.4% compared to the same period last year, and 265,879 containers and trailers, up 8.9%.

For the two weeks ending 2025, cumulative cargo volume was 398,011 vehicles, down 5.5% compared to the first two weeks of 2024, while intermodal unit volume was 488,789 vehicles, up 7.8%. Total freight volume was 886,800 vehicles and intermodal units, up 1.4%.

This week's North American freight volume (from nine railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico) consisted of 305,986 cars, down 2.7% compared to the second week of 2024, and 348,125 intermodal vehicles, up 8.9%. The total freight volume was 654,111 carriages and intermodal vehicles, an increase of 3.1%. Over the past two weeks, overall North American freight volumes have increased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Canada grew 3.1 percent and Mexico fell 6.4 percent.