Another strong week for industrial rail freight

U.S. weekly rail traffic totaled 537,397 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.85 compared with the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) said.

Traffic for the week ending September 26 totaled 235,787 carloads, up 3% compared with the same week in 2025, while intermodal volume of 301,610 containers and trailers was 6.3% higher compared to the same week in 2025.

Seven of the 10 specific carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They were led by metallic ores and metals, 9.5%; petroleum and related products, 9.4%; and chemicals, 7.2%.

Shipments of farm products excluding grain and food fell by 3.3%, followed by coal, 2.1%, and motor vehicles and parts, 1.8%. Coal inventories are up 1.4 million tons since the end of 2025, while domestic consumption was down 11.4% y/y. The runup to winter has been a slow go for rail; U.S. coal production is down 2.4% through Sept. 5.

For the first 38 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,679,882 carloads, up 2.7% y/y, and 10,778,696 intermodal units, up 4.1%. Total combined traffic was 19,458,578 carloads and intermodal units, better by 3.5%.

North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 344,004 carloads, up 1.5% from the year-ago week. Intermodal reached 389,606 units, up 5.3%. Total combined weekly traffic was 733,610 carloads and intermodal units, ahead 3.5%. Volume was 26,678,211 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 3.1% compared with 2025.

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Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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