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U.S. railroads have registered their seventh-straight week of traffic gains after a slow start in 2005. During the week ending March 12, the roads boosted carloads 3.7 percent to 346,435 units and increased intermodal loads 3.1 percent to 205,770 units compared with the same 2004 period, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through the year’s first 10 weeks, U.S. roads moved 3,362,713 carloads, up 2.8 percent, and 2,145,405 trailers and containers, up 9.5 percent compared with a similar 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 312.2 billion ton-miles rose 3.7 percent.

Canadian railroads’ latest weekly traffic figures didn’t fare as well. During the week ending March 12, carloads fell 2.6 percent to 67,075 units compared with the same 2004 week. However, the roads’ intermodal traffic totaling 41,993 trailers and containers rose 9.8 percent.

Through 10 weeks, Canadian roads moved 659,304 carloads, up 2.6 percent, and 411,637 trailers and containers, up 6.4 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 10 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads boosted carloads 2.7 percent to 4,022,017 units and increased intermodal loads 9 percent to 2,557,042 units compared with last year.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V. registered its weakest year-over-year weekly traffic figures since early 2004. During the week ending March 12, TFM’s carloads dropped 5 percent to 8,566 units and intermodal loads decreased 1.6 percent to 3,696 units compared with the same 2004 week. However, through 10 weeks, the railroad’s carloads totaling 86,571 units and intermodal loads totaling 38,588 units rose 6.4 percent and 14.0 percent, respectively, compared with last year.