WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic remained slightly below 2024 levels for a second consecutive week, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
For the week ending Aug. 23, 2025, total traffic was 512,333 carloads and intermodal units, a decline of 0.8% from the same week a year ago. That follows a 0.7% decline in the week ending Aug. 16 [see “Weekly U.S. rail traffic sees slight decline,” Trains.com, Aug. 21, 2025].
The overall figure includes 229,783 carloads, up 0.6% over the corresponding week in 2024, and 282,550 containers and trailers, down 1.9%.
Through 34 weeks of 2026, U.S. volume is 16,699,108 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.5% increase over the same period in 2024. The 7,514,403 carloads represent a 2.6% increase, while the 9,184,705 intermodal units are a gain of 4.2%.
North American volume for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, is 692,598 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.6%. The 322,359 carloads are an increase of 5.3% over the same week a year ago, while the 370.239 intermodal units are an increase of 5.9%.
For the year to date, the 22,988,498 carloads and intermodal units are a gain of 2.7% over the first 34 weeks of 2024. That figure includes 5,499,570 carloads and intermodal units in Canada, up 2.2%, and 789,820 carloads and intermodal units in Mexico, down 8.4%.
