--- title: Rail & Intermodal Update – August 8, 2025 description: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announce a major merger, rail traffic trends upward, and ARCI results show a decline in railcar backlog. image: https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/08-Aug/RMU%20Aug%208%20blog%202025.png --- ![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/08-Aug/RMU%20Aug%208%20blog%202025.png?width=1600&height=500&name=RMU%20Aug%208%20blog%202025.png) intermodal imports Rail # Rail & Intermodal Update – August 8, 2025 ![Joseph Towers, Sr. Analyst, Rail](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Staff%20Photos/2024/Joseph%20B%20Towers_Square.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=Joseph%20B%20Towers_Square.jpg) Joseph Towers, Sr. Analyst, Rail August 12, 2025 Rail & Intermodal Update – August 8, 2025 2:35 In this week’s episode of *FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update*, Senior Analyst **Joseph Towers** breaks down the latest developments in the rail industry, covering major merger news, current traffic trends, and the latest ARCI results. Here’s a recap of the key points discussed. --- ### **Proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger** The headline story this past week was the announcement that **Union Pacific (UP)** and **Norfolk Southern (NS)** intend to merge, creating the first coast-to-coast transcontinental U.S. railroad since 1869. - The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has confirmed receipt of the notice of intent for the merger. - UP and NS plan to file their formal application by **January 29, 2026**. - Once submitted, the STB will set a procedural schedule for review. While the length of the approval process is not yet clear, the last major Class I merger — between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern — took nearly two years from announcement to approval. ![11 Podcast Graphics - Updated 5.28.24(1)](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/11%20Podcast%20Graphics%20-%20Updated%205.28.24(1).png?width=1080&height=1080&name=11%20Podcast%20Graphics%20-%20Updated%205.28.24(1).png) ### Don't miss an episode! ## Rail Market Update Podcast This article was created from an excerpt from FTR's biweekly rail podcast with Joseph Towers. [ Listen now ](https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast) --- ### **Weekly Rail Traffic Overview** For the week ending **August 2, 2025**, total North American rail traffic rose **3.6% year-over-year**. **Carloads:** - Overall carloads increased **4.5%**. - Growth was seen in 7 of the 10 AAR commodity categories. - Leading gains came from: - **Grain:** +21.5% - **Motor Vehicles:** +15.1% - **Other:** +13.0% - **Coal:** +6.0% - Declines were recorded in metallic ores and metals (-4.0%), farm products excluding grain (-3.6%), and petroleum products (-2.8%). ![Screenshot 2025-08-08 134435](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/08-Aug/Screenshot%202025-08-08%20134435.png?width=1260&height=682&name=Screenshot%202025-08-08%20134435.png) **Intermodal:** - Total intermodal units increased **2.7%**. - U.S. carriers posted a slight increase of **0.2%**. - Canadian carriers saw strong growth at **+13.0%**. - Mexican carrier GMX increased **8.2%**. ![Screenshot 2025-08-08 134552](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/08-Aug/Screenshot%202025-08-08%20134552.png?width=1259&height=681&name=Screenshot%202025-08-08%20134552.png) --- ### **ARCI Results – Q2 2025** The latest **ARCI** results show: - **Railcar deliveries:** 7,916 units (higher than previously forecast) - **Railcar orders:** 6,237 units - **Backlog:** 29,871 units — the lowest level since Q4 2010 This marks the eighth consecutive quarter where orders have come in below deliveries, contributing to the ongoing backlog decline. > ![2025 FTR Conference_Friends and Family discount_Joseph with photo](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2025%20Conference/Social/Conference%20Expert%20Graphics/2025%20FTR%20Conference_Friends%20and%20Family%20discount_Joseph%20with%20photo.png?width=268&height=268&name=2025%20FTR%20Conference_Friends%20and%20Family%20discount_Joseph%20with%20photo.png)These developments — the UP–NS merger announcement, steady carload growth, and changes in railcar order activity — will be explored in more detail at the upcoming **FTR Transportation Conference**, taking place **September 8–11, 2025, in Indianapolis**. If you haven’t registered yet, you can use promo code **25FTRJOSEPH10** at checkout for **10% off** your registration.   [![FTR blog_subscriptions_RU download report](https://content.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/FTR%20blog_subscriptions_RU%20download%20report.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=FTR%20blog_subscriptions_RU%20download%20report.jpg) ](https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-update) Want to see the type of detailed information FTR can provide?  Download a sample of our Rail Update report. [![FTR_Ready-to-elevate-your-strategy_1-1_Joseph-1](https://content.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Speaking%20Events%20-External/Social%20Media%20Graphics/FTR_Ready-to-elevate-your-strategy_1-1_Joseph-1.png?width=1200&length=1200&name=FTR_Ready-to-elevate-your-strategy_1-1_Joseph-1.png) ](https://www.ftrintel.com/joseph-towers/business-card) Want to learn more about Joseph and how he can help your business?  Click on the image to learn more! [![FTR_webinar_July 2025_LI Replay](https://5867190.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/5867190/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Events/Webinars/2025/July%20SOF%20Key%20Issues%20Complimentary%20Webinar/Social%20Media%20Graphics/FTR_webinar_July%202025_LI%20Replay.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=FTR_webinar_July%202025_LI%20Replay.jpg) ](https://www.ftrintel.com/keyissuesreplay) Missed the live session? Catch the replay of our *Key Issues in Transportation* webinar to hear expert insights on rates, forecasts, and the trends shaping freight in 2025—free and on your schedule. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Ftoday.ftrintel.com%2Frmu-august-8-2025](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Ftoday.ftrintel.com%2Frmu-august-8-2025) ## Keep reading [![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/July/_Class%208%20July%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=_Class%208%20July%202026%20blog.png) class 8 trucks forecasting ### Class 8 Orders Surge Again as Industry Nears 2026 Production Capacity ](https://today.ftrintel.com/class-8-july-2026) [![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/June/_RMU%20June%2026%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=_RMU%20June%2026%202026%20blog.png) intermodal carload Rail ### Rail Traffic Holds Steady While Intermodal Extends Its Winning Streak ](https://today.ftrintel.com/rmu-june-26-2026) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joseph Towers, Sr. Analyst, Rail", "url" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/author/joseph-towers" }, "dateModified" : "2025-08-12T14:05:52.217Z", "datePublished" : "2025-08-12T14:05:52.000Z", "headline" : "Rail & Intermodal Update – August 8, 2025", "image" : [ "https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/08-Aug/RMU%20Aug%208%20blog%202025.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/rmu-august-8-2025", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/FTR%20Logos%20and%20Icons/FTR_Logo_Primary_FullColor.png" }, "name" : "FTR | Transportation Intelligence" } } ```