The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 26, 2026.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 537,397 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.8 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending September 26 were 235,787 carloads, up 3.0 percent compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 301,610 containers and trailers, up 6.3 percent compared to 2025.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included chemicals, up 2,261 carloads, to 33,843; metallic ores and metals, up 1,988 carloads, to 22,820; and nonmetallic minerals, up 1,202 carloads, to 34,021. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2025 were coal, down 1,236 carloads, to 58,280; farm products excl. grain, and food, down 569 carloads, to 16,614; and motor vehicles and parts, down 315 carloads, to 16,891.

For the first 38 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,679,882 carloads, up 2.7 percent from the same point last year; and 10,778,696 intermodal units, up 4.1 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 38 weeks of 2026 was 19,458,578 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.5 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending September 26, 2026, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 344,004 carloads, up 1.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 389,606 intermodal units, up 5.3 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 733,610 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.5 percent. North American rail volume for the first 38 weeks of 2026 was 26,678,211 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.1 percent compared with 2025.

Canadian railroads reported 94,930 carloads for the week, up 0.9 percent, and 73,719 intermodal units, up 1.8 percent compared with the same week in 2025. For the first 38 weeks of 2026, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 6,252,353 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1.4 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 13,287 carloads for the week, down 16.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 14,277 intermodal units, up 3.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 38 weeks of 2026 was 967,280 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 6.9 percent from the same point last year.