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With one week to go in 2010, U.S. railroads maintained their traffic-building momentum. During the week ending Christmas Day, they originated 256,098 carloads, up 29.3 percent, and 177,249 intermodal loads, up 25.1 percent compared with volumes from the same week in 2009, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The most recent week and 2009 comparison week both included the holiday, but Christmas 2010 fell on a Saturday while Christmas 2009 occurred on a Friday.

Container volume jumped 24.2 percent, trailer volume shot up 29.9 percent and 17 of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly volume of 67,334 carloads, up 21.5 percent, and 39,108 containers and trailers, up 28 percent year over year. Mexican railroads boosted weekly carloads 20.8 percent to 12,948 units and increased intermodal volume 3.6 percent to 5,656 units.

Through 2010’s first 51 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 19 million carloads, up 9.4 percent, and 13.9 million containers and trailers, up 14.7 percent compared with volumes from the same 2009 period.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Dec. 25 and through 51 weeks, follow this link.