WASHINGTON — U.S. carload traffic was up while intermodal was down during the week ending Jan. 17, 2026, adding up to a small overall volume gain.
According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, weekly rail traffic was 505,385 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 1.1% over the same week in 2025. The overall figure includes 224,783 carloads, a gain of 3.9%, and 280,602 containers and trailers, a drop of 1.1%.
Volume for the first two weeks of 2026 was 1,015,842 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 5.2% over the same period a year ago. The 475,586 carloads are a 10% gain from a year ago, while the 558,256 intermodal units are an increase of 1.6%.
North American figures for the week, from nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, show 327,894 carloads, up 2.6% compared to the corresponding week a year ago, and 367,278 intermodal units, up 0.2%. The total of 695,172 carloads and intermodal units is a gain of 1.3%.
The two-week North American total of 1,391,656 carloads and intermodal units is a gain of 4.4% compared to 2025.
In Canada, railroads reported 90,331 carloads for the week, down 1.9%, and 71,246 intermodal units, down 2.6% compared to the same week a year ago. The two-week total of 319,802 carloads and intermodal units is a decline of 2.5% from the same period a year ago.
Mexican railroads reported 12,780 carloads last week, up 13.8% from the same week a year ago, and 15,430 intermodal units up 60.9%. Two-week totals for Mexico are 56,012 carloads and intermodal units, up 43.7% from a year ago.
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Gains in raw materials and bulk commodities, and little gains/some losses in finished goods. Not a very promising future.