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U.S. railroads are off to a slow start in 2004. During the year's first full week ending Jan. 10, U.S. roads moved 317,986 carloads, a 3.2 percent decline compared with the same 2003 period, according to Association of American Railroads data released Jan. 15. Carloads were off 4.4 percent in the East and 2.2 percent in the West; estimated total volume of 28.2 billion ton-miles was down 2.1 percent.

However, U.S. roads continued to build intermodal traffic, moving 188,722 trailers and containers, a 1.1 percent increase compared with the same 2003 period.

During the same week, Canadian railroads' traffic fortunes were reversed: Carloads totaling 63,287 units rose 2.3 percent, but intermodal traffic totaling 39,954 trailers and containers dropped 3.1 percent compared with a similar 2003 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads last week moved 381,273 carloads, down 2.3 percent, and 228,676 trailers and containers, up 0.4 percent compared with similar 2003 data.

The week wasn't kind to TFM S.A. de C.V. on either traffic front. The Mexican railroad moved 7,722 carloads, down 12.9 percent, and 2,303 trailers and containers, down 28.4 percent compared with the same 2003 period.