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U.S. railroads kept the traffic gains coming in 2011’s second full week. During the week ending Jan. 15, they originated 282,987 carloads, up 7.5 percent, and 213,486 intermodal loads, up 5.8 percent compared with volumes from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Eleven of 20 carload commodity groups registered increases, while container volume rose 7.2 percent and trailer volume fell 1.5 percent.

Moderating international traffic trends and railroad commentary “temper our expectation for a robust first-quarter international intermodal demand push surrounding the Chinese New Year,” said Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. analysts in their weekly “Rail Flash” report. “However, domestic demand remains solid, though partially impacted by constrained domestic box demand.”

Canadian railroads reported weekly volume of 70,176 carloads, down 4.4 percent, and 42,929 containers and trailers, down 2.8 percent year over year. Mexican railroads’ weekly carloads increased 11.2 percent to 14,966 units, but intermodal volume slipped 0.4 percent to 6,951 units.

Through 2011’s first two weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 737,150 carloads, up 10.4 percent, and 527,403 containers and trailers, up 5.8 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data through two weeks, follow this link.