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1/13/2026
Total U.S. freight-rail traffic in 2025 was up 1.5% over 2024, despite concerns about economic downturn. Going into 2026, Association of American Railroads' economists are "cautiously optimistic" about rail traffic growth.
Intermodal rail traffic for all of 2025 totaled 14.06 million containers and trailers, up 1.5% over 2024 and the second most ever, behind 2018's 14.36 million, according to the AAR's latest "Rail Industry Overview" report, issued Jan. 10.
Since rail intermodal shipments are tied closely to consumer spending, growth in 2026 will depend on the American population's inflation-adjusted income growth, disposable income, labor market stability and interest rates, AAR officials said. Intermodal volumes in 2025 surged early and hit a lull late in the year, as retailers preordered supplies in anticipation of President Trump imposing tariffs on goods from other countries, they added.
Freight railroads hauled 8.48 million carloads, excluding coal, in 2025. That's up 1% over 2024 and the most since 2019. Coal carloads rose 3.1% in 2025, accounting for 26.3% of all U.S. non-intermodal rail volume in the year.
Commodities that drove overall carload growth included grain, up 5.2% over 2024; chemicals, up 0.8%; and steel-related products, up 3.2%, AAR officials said.
Rail traffic was "mixed" at the end of the year, with December 2025 intermodal and carload traffic down 3.4% and 2.3%, respectively, from the same period in 2024, according to the AAR. December was the fourth consecutive month of intermodal volume downturn and third month of carload traffic decline in the final four months of 2025.
To view the full report, click here.