News

Statistics Canada reports that the volume of cargo carried by Canadian railways in February totalled 29.4 million tonnes, up 9.8% from February 2025, driven by increases in loadings of some agricultural products, container movements and freight from US connections.

The Federal Agency notes that while rail freight transport often slows in February because of fewer days and colder weather, the volume carried in February 2026 was above the five-year average for the month, and just under the high of 30.7 million tonnes from February 2024.

The growth in rail traffic in February was the result of higher volumes across all types of rail operations: non-intermodal loadings (mainly commodities) and intermodal loadings (mainly containers), as well as freight traffic from connections with American railways.

Intermodal shipments – mainly containers – originating in Canada rose 15.0% year over year to 3.0 million tonnes, the highest volume ever recorded for the month of February.

In February 2026, freight loadings from connections with American railways increased for the first time after 12 straight months of year-over-year decreases. Tonnage was up 16.1% from February 2025 to reach 3.2 million tonnes but remained below the previous five-year average of 3.4 million tonnes for the month of February.