US Rail Traffic Down 2.4% – Sep 2025 Trends

Introduction

For the week ending September 6, total U.S. rail traffic reached 467,880 carloads and intermodal units, marking a 2.4% decrease compared to the corresponding week last year. Carload traffic, container, and trailer volumes experienced varied changes across different commodity groups and international networks.

U.S. Rail Traffic Overview

Total carloads for the week were 214,383, reflecting a 3.5% decrease. Containers and trailers reached 253,497, down by 1.4%.

Commodity Group Performance

Several carload commodity groups recorded increases. Miscellaneous carloads rose by 15.3% to 8,512. Motor vehicles and parts increased by 7.1% to 14,633, and forest products saw a 3.8% increase, reaching 7,801. Conversely, several groups experienced declines: chemicals decreased by 8.8% to 29,802 carloads, coal dropped by 4.4% to 60,927, and grain decreased by 8% to 18,067 carloads.

Canadian and Mexican Rail Traffic

Canadian railroads reported 85,891 carloads for the week, a 1.4% decrease, and 66,397 intermodal units, up 0.8%. Mexican railroads transported 12,700 carloads, up 26.9%, and 13,480 intermodal units, a 59% increase.

Year-to-Date Comparison

The source data provides information for the first 36 weeks of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

Conclusion

In summary, U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 6 showed a decrease in overall volume compared to the previous year, with varying performance across different commodity groups and differing trends among Canadian and Mexican railroads.