Association of American Railroads

Association of American Railroads America's freight railroads operate the safest, cleanest and most efficient rail system in the world — and at AAR we're committed to keeping it that way.

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This June, for , we're spotlighting the people and technology working together to keep our rail network safe. At Union ...
06/11/2026

This June, for , we're spotlighting the people and technology working together to keep our rail network safe. At Union Pacific Railroad, AI-powered Machine Vision helps track inspectors do their jobs with greater precision.

The system combines high-resolution cameras, sensors, and AI software to scan track infrastructure and surface data that teams can act on — helping to identify emerging issues before they affect safety or service. In 2025, Union Pacific teams inspected more than 644,000 miles of track using geometry systems that generated over 100 billion measurements.

That data is converted into practical insights inspectors use in the field every day. Technology like this supports the judgment of the skilled professionals who keep our railroads operating safely.

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 7.8% for the week endin...
06/11/2026

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 7.8% for the week ending June 06, 2026, compared with the same week last year.

Key highlights this week:

🌾 Grain: +9.2%

🪨 Metallic ores & metals: +9.1%

🚘️ Motor Vehicles and Parts: +6.1%

📦 Carloads: +1.0% year-over-year

🚛 Intermodal: +13.6% year-over-year

Link in comments ⬇️⬇️

06/10/2026

Advanced technologies are transforming how freight rail operates—from smarter inspections to better real-time data. But policy needs to keep pace.

As AAR CEO Ian Jefferies emphasized for Congress, the focus should be on what actually improves safety—not adding requirements without clear results. A smarter, data-driven approach will ensure reliable rail service and a more efficient network.

06/08/2026

The June Rail Industry Overview (RIO) from AAR's Policy and Economics team is out now.

The report shows consumer confidence has softened, and inflation pressures have re-emerged — yet the movement of goods across the rail network continues to tell a more constructive story.

Rail container traffic reached a record year-to-date high, and grain traffic is at its highest level since 1990. In May, 15 of 20 carload categories posted year-over-year gains, and the AAR Freight Rail Index hit its highest level in 17 months.

Rail markets continue to point to an economy that is proving more resilient than many expected. Read the full report in the comments!

06/05/2026

☕ Episode 2 of Coffee Break is here— and it's a big one!

AAR sat down with Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs for a frank conversation about what's really driving rail regulation today — permitting reform, data modernization, and finding the right balance between oversight and economic growth.

From new rail spurs serving industrial parks to biofuels facilities, this episode explores how smart policy can help railroads meet the needs of shippers and communities across the country.

🎧 Tune in now and subscribe to The Signal to stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of rail. Link in the comments!

June is — and at BNSF Railway, it’s reflected in the more than 10,000 employees trained at the BNSF Technical Training...
06/04/2026

June is — and at BNSF Railway, it’s reflected in the more than 10,000 employees trained at the BNSF Technical Training Center to do the job right.

For 40 years, BNSF and Johnson County Community College (JCCC) have partnered to run the BNSF Technical Training Center (TTC) in Overland Park, Kansas — a program that has shaped the standard for railroad training across the industry. The TTC spans nearly a quarter-million square feet of indoor and outdoor training space. Its 68 instructors are all career railroaders — people who have worked the jobs they now teach.

Employees across every craft train on locomotive simulators, augmented and virtual reality scenarios, grade-crossing simulators, and more. Behind every safe operation is someone who was trained to do it right.

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 7.2% for the week endin...
06/04/2026

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 7.2% for the week ending May 30, 2026, compared with the same week last year.

Key highlights this week:

🌾 Grain: +33.8%

🪨 Metallic ores & metals: +19.5%

🚘️ Motor Vehicles and Parts: +9.1%

📦 Carloads: +4.0% year-over-year 🚛 Intermodal: +10.0% year-over-year

Link in comments ⬇️⬇️

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 7.2% for the week endin...
05/27/2026

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 7.2% for the week ending May 23, 2026, compared with the same week last year.

Key highlights this week:

🌾 Grain: +15.3%

🪨 Metallic ores & metals: +9.0%

🛻 Motor Vehicles & Parts: +2.3%

📦 Carloads: +2.2% year-over-year

🚛 Intermodal: +11.5% year-over-year

Link in comments ⬇️⬇️

05/23/2026

⛽ Did you know one freight train can move a ton of goods nearly 500 miles on just one gallon of fuel?

That's like driving from New York to Detroit on a single gallon! Freight rail is the most fuel-efficient way to move goods over land — and has been keeping America moving for generations.

The backbone of the American economy runs on steel rails. This , we're celebrating the network that quietly keeps Ameri...
05/22/2026

The backbone of the American economy runs on steel rails. This , we're celebrating the network that quietly keeps America moving — every single day.

🚂 749,000 jobs supported nationwide

💵 $233 billion in economic output in 2023 alone

🔧 $25 billion privately invested — every year, by the industry itself

Freight railroads are committed to building and maintaining the safest, most efficient network in the world. That's not just infrastructure. That's infrastructure that works.

Address

425 3rd Street SW, Ste 1000
Washington D.C., DC
20024

Telephone

+12028632190

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