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U.S. railroads got off to a good traffic-building start in November. During the week ending Nov. 5, the railroads moved 339,498 carloads, up 0.5 percent, and 245,076 trailers and containers, up 4.9 percent compared with the same 2004 week, according to the Association of American Railroads.

During 2005’s first 44 weeks, U.S. roads moved 14.7 million carloads and 9.9 million intermodal loads, a 1 percent and 6.3 percent increase, respectively, compared with the same 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 1.43 trillion ton-miles rose 2.6 percent.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads had an up-and-down week. During the period ending Nov. 5, the roads’ carloads totaling 78,808 units dropped 2.1 percent but intermodal loads totaling 47,869 units increased 9.7 percent compared with the same 2004 week.

Through 44 weeks, Canadian railroads moved 3.3 million carloads, down 0.8 percent, and 1.9 million trailers and containers, up 3.3 percent compared with 2004’s first 44 weeks.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 44 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads moved 18 million carloads, up 0.7 percent, and 11.8 million trailers and containers, up 5.8 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V.’s months-long traffic slump has carried over into November. During the week ending Nov. 5, the railroad’s carloads totaling 7,352 units and intermodal loads totaling 3,913 units fell 24.8 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 week. Through 44 weeks, TFM moved 367,593 carloads, down 4.3 percent, and 169,332 trailers and containers, up 2.4 percent compared with the same 2004 period.