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U.S. railroads capped off 2010 with another traffic boost. During the week ending Jan. 1, they originated 240,073 carloads, up 5.6 percent, and 166,894 intermodal loads, up 11.9 percent compared with volumes from the same week in 2009, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

For the full year, U.S. roads originated 14.8 million carloads, up 7.3 percent, and 11.3 million containers and trailers, up 14.2 percent vs. 2009 totals.

“Rail traffic growth in 2010 is clearly a positive development, and reflects a growing economy as well as solid, dependable service on the part of the railroads,” said AAR Senior Vice President John Gray in a prepared statement.  “However … rail traffic still has a long way to go to full recovery.”

Canadian railroads reported weekly carload volume of 60,077 units, up 7 percent, and intermodal loads of 32,775 units, up 4.4 percent vs. volumes from 2009’s 52nd week. During the full year, they boosted carloads 16.7 percent to 3.8 million units and increased intermodal volume 15.6 percent to 2.4 million units.

Mexican railroads’ weekly carloads jumped 42 percent year over year to 11,512 units and intermodal loads climbed 32.2 percent to 4,669 units. In 2010, their carload traffic rose 18.5 percent to 712,951 units and intermodal volume increased 22.4 percent to 352,578 units.

Through 52 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 19.3 million carloads, up 9.4 percent, and 14.1 million containers and trailers, up 14.7 percent compared with 2009 totals.