AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending October 17, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 21, 2026 - The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 17, 2026.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 540,135 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.5 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending October 17 were 232,120 carloads, up 3.5 percent compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 308,015 containers and trailers, up 12.6 percent compared to 2025.

Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included metallic ores and metals, up 2,946 carloads, to 23,306; grain, up 1,470 carloads, to 22,486; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 1,103 carloads, to 18,776. One commodity group posted a decrease compared with the same week in 2025: nonmetallic minerals, down 1,089 carloads, to 32,428.

For the first 41 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,374,717 carloads, up 2.7 percent from the same point last year; and 11,687,964 intermodal units, up 4.6 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 41 weeks of 2026 was 21,062,681 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending October 17, 2026, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 339,034 carloads, up 3.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 392,681 intermodal units, up 10.8 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 731,715 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.2 percent. North American rail volume for the first 41 weeks of 2026 was 28,828,693 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.2 percent compared with 2025.

Canadian railroads reported 95,392 carloads for the week, up 3.3 percent, and 70,389 intermodal units, down 0.7 percent compared with the same week in 2025. For the first 41 weeks of 2026, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 6,750,758 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1.3 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 11,522 carloads for the week, down 1.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 14,277 intermodal units, up 43.6 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 41 weeks of 2026 was 1,015,254 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.8 percent from the same point last year.

###

For more information, contact: AAR Media Relations at [email protected] or 202-639-2345.

About AAR: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Learn more at www.aar.org.

Follow Us: Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Signal Newsletter