Rail Traffic Uptick for Week 6
For Week 6 (ending Feb. 14, 2026), total U.S. rail traffic rose 6.2% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads reported Feb. 18. This follows a two-week downturn.
Association of American Railroads
AAR: Downward Carloads, Intermodal Trend Continues in Week 5
Total U.S. rail traffic was 486,8545 carloads and intermodal units for Week 5 (ending Feb. 7, 2026), down 3.2% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Feb. 11.
TransmetriQ: Improving Finished-Vehicle Shipment Visibility
Railinc’s TransmetriQ brand has released the VIN Tracking tool, allowing auto manufacturers and dealers to track finished vehicles by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) as they move from manufacturing plants to distribution terminals to dealers across North America.
Student Travel Grant Launched for 31st Annual AAR Research Review
A new travel grant program is now available to support student attendance at the 31st Annual Association of American Railroads (AAR) Research Review, to be held April 28-30 at MxV Rail’s Pueblo, Colo., facility.
AAR: Carloads, Intermodal Down for Week 4
Total U.S. rail traffic was 434,361 carloads and intermodal units for Week 4 (ending Jan. 31, 2026), down 15.5% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Feb. 4.
AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Up for Week Three
Total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 24, 2026 (Week 3) was up 6.0% from the prior-year period, with gains in both carloads and intermodal volume, according to the Association of American Railroad’s (AAR) latest report.
U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 2
U.S. rail traffic was up slightly for the second week of the year* (ending Jan. 17), the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 21. Volume came in at 505,385 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.1% from the same week in 2025, with carload gains partially offset by intermodal losses.
Senators Introduce Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND) recently introduced the bipartisan Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act (PRCPA) to enhance public safety by “ensuring passenger rail crew members are provided the legal protections that have been afforded to flight crew members and attendants for decades.”
For North American Rail Traffic, a Positive Start to 2026
Total North American carload and intermodal traffic rose 7.7% for the first week of the new year (ending Jan. 10, 2026) compared with the same period in 2025, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 14. The United States and Mexico saw gains, while Canada experienced softness.
Effectiveness of Cold Wheel-Based Brake Tests
MxV RAIL R&D, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE: As railroads continue to adopt technology to improve safety and efficiency, the effectiveness of brake systems remains a critical focus. A recent study conducted