advertisement

---

U.S. railroads got off to a good start in April. During the month’s first full week ending April 9, the roads boosted carloads 4.9 percent to 343,376 units and increased intermodal loads 6.2 percent to 213,899 units compared with the same 2004 week, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through 2005’s first 14 weeks, U.S. roads moved 4,746,928 carloads, up 2.7 percent, and 2,995,153 trailers and containers, up 7.5 percent compared with a similar 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 440.8 billion ton-miles rose 3.5 percent.

Canadian railroads also had a good week, boosting carloads and intermodal loads 4 percent to 71,024 units and 0.2 percent to 41,323 units, respectively, compared with last year. Through 14 weeks, the roads’ carloads totaling 977,200 units rose 1.8 percent and intermodal loads totaling 580,007 units increased 4.6 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 14 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 5,724,128 carloads, up 2.5 percent, and 3,575,160 trailers and containers, up 7 percent compared with last year.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V. rebounded with its best weekly traffic figures of the year. During the week ending April 9, TFM boosted carloads 6.9 percent to 8,828 units and increased intermodal loads 68.9 percent to 4,389 units compared with the same 2004 week. Through 14 weeks, the road’s carloads totaling 119,688 units and intermodal loads totaling 51,702 units rose 3.9 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively, compared with last year.