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Despite a slight rebound at September's end, U.S. railroads' traffic got off to a sluggish start in October.

During the month's first week ending Oct. 6, the roads' originated carloads decreased 0.3 percent to 336,315 units and intermodal traffic fell 3.2 percent to 242,871 units compared with volume from the same week in 2006, according to the Association of American Railroads.

During 2007's first 40 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 13 million carloads, down 3.2 percent, and 9.2 million containers and trailers, down 2 percent compared with the same 2006 period. Volume totaled an estimated 1.34 trillion ton-miles, representing a 1.7 percent decline.

Canadian railroads had an up-and-down week. During the period ending Oct. 6, the roads' originated carloads dropped slightly - by 0.1 percent - to 80,336 units, but intermodal volume increased 6.1 percent to 52,682 units compared with traffic levels from 2006's 40th week.

Through 40 weeks, Canadian railroads originated 3.1 million carloads, down 0.9 percent, and 1.9 million containers and trailers, up 2.9 percent compared with the same 2006 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 40 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 16.1 million carloads, down 2.7 percent, and 11.1 million intermodal loads, down 1.2 percent year over year.