Union Pacific hauled record grain volume in Q1

Union Pacific Railroad hauled a record volume of grain in first-quarter 2026, surpassing the railroad's prior Q1 record in 2008.

Grain traffic was driven in part by high demand in Mexico and overseas markets, UP officials said in a press release. U.S. grain farmers also harvested a record corn crop in 2025, with production up 14% from 2024.

UP's grain shuttles averaged 334 miles per day in Q1 compared to 294 miles per day in 2024. Beyond operational improvements, the Class I has also invested in new hopper cars that can carry an additional 2,500 pounds and are 3 to 7 feet shorter, allowing for more grain movement with the same length of train, UP officials said.

Additionally, the railroad has implemented a new crew change at the Eagle Pass international border crossing that speeds up the crossing process. Mexican partner crews now travel 7 miles from the border into UP's Eagle Pass yard to interchange with U.S. crews rather than on the international bridge, UP officials said.