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U.S. railroads capped off yet another solid traffic-building week, mostly on the intermodal side. During the week ending Aug. 21, the roads moved 339,749 carloads, up 0.9 percent, and 217,149 trailers and containers, up 9.5 percent compared with similar 2003 data, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through the year's first 33 weeks, U.S. roads carloads totaling 11,035,493 rose 3.4 percent and intermodal loads totaling 6,822,378 increased 9.5 percent compared with last year. Total estimated volume of 996.9 billion ton-miles rose 4.6 percent.

Canadian roads also posted promising weekly traffic figures, but carload data was much stronger. During the week ending Aug. 21, the roads increased carloads 10.3 percent to 69,331 units and intermodal loads, 0.6 percent to 42,440 units compared with similar 2003 data.

Through 33 weeks, Canadian roads moved 2,202,665 carloads, up 10.3 percent, and 1,368,590 trailers and containers, about the same compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 33 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 13,238,158 carloads, up 4.3 percent, and 8,190,968 trailers and containers, up 7.8 percent compared with similar 2003 data.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V.'s traffic rebound continues. During the week ending Aug. 21, the road's carloads totaling 9,435 rose 19.7 percent and intermodal loads totaling 4,007 increased 27 percent compared with the same 2003 week. Through 33 weeks, TFM moved 282,230 carloads, up 0.5 percent, and 119,083 trailers and containers, up 1.6 percent compared with last year.