INTERNATIONAL: This concise weekly review presents a selection of rail freight news published from August 6 to August 12, 2026: traffic records, policy changes, new services and infrastructure projects.

Aerial view of freight cars and intermodal containers at the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard.
Freight cars and intermodal equipment at Clearing Yard in May 2025. Photo: Tylervigen / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

Freight volumes and new operating links

CN and CPKC close crop year with separate grain records

CN and CPKC closed the 2025–26 crop year with separate grain movement records, reporting more than 33.8 million and 30.66 million metric tons, respectively. CN exceeded its previous Western Canadian record by more than 2.6 million metric tons, while CPKC finished 11% above the prior crop year. The published scopes differ, so the figures should be read as company records rather than a direct ranking. Full details are in CN and CPKC set grain records over 30 million metric tons.

U.S. intermodal growth leads weekly rail traffic

U.S. rail traffic rose 2.4% year on year in the week ending August 1, reaching 526,410 carloads and intermodal units. Intermodal volume increased 4.8% to 293,239 units, while carloads slipped 0.4% to 233,171. The Railway Supply report also notes six consecutive reported weeks in which intermodal growth outpaced carloads, with more detail in U.S. rail traffic rises as intermodal gains.

DP World completes first Zeebrugge–Aiud vehicle move

DP World completed the first finished-vehicle rail movement from Zeebrugge to Aiud, with vehicles then continuing by road to Chișinău. The company plans a twice-monthly service during the second half of 2026, but has not given an exact start date, rail operator, intermediate route or transit time. The pilot and planned operating pattern are covered in DP World completes first Zeebrugge–Aiud vehicle rail move.

Karibib hub feeds a new rail corridor to Walvis Bay

TransNamib and Kaleido Logistics are using a new Karibib hub to consolidate inland cargo for rail movement to Walvis Bay. Initial volumes are expected at up to 25,000 tonnes a month, with marble and granite among the first target commodities. The facility combines storage, loading and transshipment with direct railway access, as described in Karibib logistics hub anchors new Walvis Bay rail link.

Policy and network access

Canada launches 50% freight rebate for steel

Canada launched a federal program reimbursing 50% of eligible rail and marine freight costs for Canadian steel, with up to C$100 million available while funds last. Rail shipments must cross a provincial or territorial boundary and meet product and origin requirements; each recipient can receive up to C$50 million. Eligibility limits and application rules are detailed in Canada offers 50% rail rebate for steel shipments.

India approves one nationwide container-train licence

Indian Railways has approved a single nationwide licence framework for container train operators, replacing route-category permissions with an All India licence and a uniform ₹25 crore registration fee for new applicants. Existing operators can retain current permissions until expiry, with migration and renewal rules varying by category. The change is approved but still requires Gazette notification, as explained in Indian Railways approves one licence for all routes.

BNSF asks STB to deny amended UP–NS merger filing

BNSF has asked the Surface Transportation Board to deny the amended Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger application, arguing that the revised competition remedies still fail the agency’s enhanced-competition standard. The STB has not adopted BNSF’s position and the case remains in abeyance while supplemental issues are reviewed. The procedural dispute is summarized in BNSF asks STB to deny amended UP–NS merger application.

Rolling stock, infrastructure and safety

Class 99 enters commercial freight service

GB Railfreight moved its first Class 99 hybrid locomotive into commercial service, with 99001 hauling an intermodal train from London Gateway to Hams Hall. The run marks service entry for a 30-locomotive programme whose wider rollout continues through 2026 and into early 2027. Technical specifications and the distinction between first service and full fleet deployment appear in GBRf Class 99 begins commercial freight service in UK.

Baltic Hub plans a second seven-track rail facility

At the Port of Gdańsk, Baltic Hub has secured a 30-year lease on a 27-hectare site beside T2 for a planned second rail facility. The project is intended to add seven 750-metre tracks, container storage and handling equipment, but no investment value or detailed completion timetable has been disclosed. The planned expansion is covered in Gdańsk plans second rail facility for 750-metre trains.

Pacific National derailment follows July runaway

A loaded Pacific National coal train derailed at Ardglen Loop in the Upper Hunter when six wheels on the lead locomotive left the track; all vehicles stayed upright and no crew members were injured. Gunnedah Basin services resumed the next day. The derailment came less than two weeks after a separate unmanned company train reached 90 km/h, with no common cause established. Both incidents remain under investigation in Pacific National derailment follows 90 km/h runaway.

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