WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic rebounded after two down weeks, with overall volume up 6.2% for the week ending Feb. 14.
According to the Association of American Railroads, overall traffic was 510,399 carloads and intermodal units, accounting for the gain compared to the same week a year ago. That included 225,283 carloads, up 7.7% from the corresponding week in 2025, and 285,116 containers and trailers, up 5%. The carload volume was led by a 41.6% gain in grain traffic compared to a year ago.
For the year to date, the volume of 2,929,164 carloads and intermodal units is a 0.5% gain over the first six weeks of 2025. The 1,297,249 carloads are a gain of 3.4%, while the 1,631,915 intermodal units are a decline of 1.8%.
North American volume for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, was 705,242 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 7.2% over the same week in 2025. That figure includes 333,151 carloads, up 7.8%, and 372,091 intermodal units, up 6.7%. For the year to date, the North American volume of 4,035,344 carloads and intermodal units is a 1.1% increase over the first six weeks of 2025.
The week’s traffic in Canada included 94,385 carloads, up 8.5%, and 72,528 intermodal units, up 10.6% from the same week a year ago. Through six weeks of 2026, Canadian volume is 974,293 carloads and intermodal units, a drop of 0.2%.
In Mexico, volume for the week included 13,483 carloads, up 5.1% from a year ago, and 14,447 intermodal units, up 22.8%. For the year to date, the 158,887 carloads and intermodal units represent a 26.4% gain over the first six weeks of 2025.
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