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So far, so good for U.S. railroads' traffic volume in 2003. Through the year's first 11 weeks, U.S. railroads moved 3,461,127 carloads, up 0.4 percent, and 1,963,876 trailers and containers, an 8.7 percent increase, compared with the same 2002 period, according to Association of American Railroads data released March 20.


The roads also recorded total volume of 308.5 billion ton-miles, a 0.2 percent rise compared with 2002's first 11 weeks.


Canadian roads' year-to-date carload traffic of 672,990 units didn't fare as well compared with last year, dropping 1.2 percent. But the roads moved 428,678 trailers and containers during that span — an 11.2 percent increase compared with a similar 2002 period.


On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 11 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 4,134,117 carloads, up 0.1 percent, and 2,392,554 trailers and containers, a 9.1 percent rise, compared with last year.


Meanwhile, TFM S.A. de C.V. continues to experience explosive traffic growth. Through 11 weeks, the Mexican road originated 96,260 cars, rising 10.9 percent, and 38,745 trailers and containers, up 48.4 percent, compared with the same 2002 period.