U.S. Rail Traffic Shows Continued Strength in Week 27 of 2026, per Latest AAR Report

Published: July 16, 2026

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) released its weekly rail traffic report on July 15, 2026, covering data for the week ending July 11, 2026 (Week 27). Overall U.S. rail traffic posted a modest gain, extending a streak of year-over-year increases amid ongoing economic resilience in key freight sectors.

Norfolk Southern AC44C6M #4201 leads an eastbound unit oil train through 'the trench" at Allegheny Commons Park West in Pittsburgh on December 1, 2023. Doug Kroll photo.

Weekly Snapshot (U.S.)

Total rail traffic: 503,525 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.5% from the same week in 2025.

Carloads: 223,040, down 0.4% year-over-year.

Intermodal (containers and trailers): 280,485 units, up 3.0% year-over-year.

This marks the 14th consecutive week of overall traffic gains, according to industry reports. While carloads saw a slight dip—partly reflecting ongoing pressures in coal and grain—intermodal continued to drive growth, signaling robust consumer and retail-related demand.

Commodity Breakdown

Eight of the 10 major carload commodity groups showed increases compared to the prior year:

Metallic ores and metals: +1,627 carloads to 21,857.
Nonmetallic minerals: +1,263 carloads to 32,823.
Farm products (excl. grain) and food: +835 carloads to 18,093.

Declines were noted in:

Coal: -4,713 carloads to 53,527.
Grain: -1,197 carloads to 21,446.

The mixed carload performance highlights the sector's transition: traditional bulk commodities like coal face structural headwinds, while industrial and agricultural segments tied to manufacturing and supply chains show underlying strength.

Year-to-Date Performance (First 27 Weeks of 2026)

Carloads: 6,117,342, up 3.1%.

Intermodal: 7,534,897 units, up 3.6%.

Combined total: 13,652,239 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.4% from the same period in 2025.

This cumulative growth underscores a solid first half of the year for U.S. railroads, with intermodal particularly benefiting from factors such as truck driver supply constraints, fuel costs, and a broader shift toward rail for long-haul efficiency.

North American Context

Across nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads:

Carloads: 327,006, up 1.1%.
Intermodal: 368,073 units, up 3.4%.
Combined total: 695,079 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.3%.

Cumulative (first 27 weeks): 18,792,861 units, up 2.9%.

Canada: Carloads up 1.9%; intermodal down 1.4%. Cumulative traffic up modestly (0.6%).
Mexico: Strong gains with carloads +24.6% and intermodal +55.4%. Cumulative volume up 9.8%.

Mexican railroads' robust performance reflects expanding cross-border trade and manufacturing activity under nearshoring trends.

Analysis and Outlook

The latest AAR data paints a picture of resilient but moderating growth following stronger holiday-week comparisons. Intermodal's steady climb remains a bright spot, supported by e-commerce, retail replenishment, and supply chain shifts away from trucking. Carload softness in coal (a long-term trend) and grain (potentially weather- or harvest-related) was more than offset by gains in metals, minerals, and other industrial categories.

With the second half of 2026 underway, watch for how seasonal factors (e.g., grain harvest, back-to-school retail, and potential economic policy impacts) influence upcoming weeks.

Expect the next AAR report (Week 28, ending July 18) around July 22–23. Data like this often informs broader discussions on rail capacity, mergers, heritage operations, and industry innovation.

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