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It must not feel like the fall peak for U.S. railroads. During the week ending Oct. 18, their originated carloads decreased 2.4 percent to 326,374 units and intermodal loads dropped 2.8 percent to 235,750 units compared with totals from the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through 2008’s first 42 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 13.7 million carloads, down 0.3 percent, and 9.4 million containers and trailers, down 3 percent vs. last year’s totals. Estimated volume reached 1.42 trillion ton-miles, a 42-week 0.8 percent increase.

For the week ending Oct. 18, Canadian railroads reported a 10.8 percent drop in carloads to 73,055 units and a 9 percent decline in intermodal loads to 47,195 units compared with totals from the same 2007 week. Through 42 weeks, their carloads totaling 3.1 million units fell 4.5 percent, but intermodal volume totaling 2 million units rose 3.9 percent year over year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 42 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 16.8 million carloads, down 1.1 percent, and 11.5 million containers and trailers, down 1.8 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period.

In Mexico, Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V. reported week No. 42 carloads totaling 10,114 units, down 11.8 percent, and intermodal loads totaling 6,483 units, up 28.5 percent vs. last year. Through 42 weeks, the railroad’s carloads decreased 5.8 percent to 431,519 units and intermodal volume increased 8.6 percent to 210,204 units.

Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. reported weekly carloads totaling 11,108 units, up 7.8 percent, and intermodal loads totaling 2,972 units, down 1.7 percent vs. totals from the same week in 2007. Through 42 weeks, Ferromex’s carloads increased 1.6 percent to 515,699 units and intermodal volume decreased 0.2 percent to 122,234 units.