AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 11, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 15, 2026 - The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 11, 2026.

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 500,040 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.7 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending April 11 were 228,666 carloads, up 5.1 percent compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 271,374 containers and trailers, down 1.1 percent compared to 2025.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included coal, up 6,728 carloads, to 58,309; chemicals, up 2,417 carloads, to 34,647; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 1,027 carloads, to 17,633. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2025 were motor vehicles and parts, down 1,050 carloads, to 15,199; grain, down 494 carloads, to 23,651; and miscellaneous carloads, down 432 carloads, to 9,065.

For the first 14 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,142,017 carloads, up 4.0 percent from the same point last year; and 3,854,862 intermodal units, down 0.3 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 14 weeks of 2026 was 6,996,879 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending April 11, 2026, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 338,866 carloads, up 5.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and 358,578 intermodal units, down 0.7 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 697,444 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1 percent. North American rail volume for the first 14 weeks of 2026 was 9,631,857 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8 percent compared with 2025.

Canadian railroads reported 96,295 carloads for the week, up 3.3 percent, and 73,502 intermodal units, down 3.2 percent compared with the same week in 2025. For the first 14 weeks of 2026, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,264,302 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.7 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 13,905 carloads for the week, up 25.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 13,702 intermodal units, up 27.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 14 weeks of 2026 was 370,676 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 14.2 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