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After a slow start to 2005, U.S. railroads are beginning to move more traffic on a weekly basis. During the week ending Feb. 19, the roads boosted carloads 4.9 percent to 350,225 units and increased intermodal loads 22.8 percent to 222,937 units compared with the same 2004 week, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Strengthening traffic during the past three weeks has helped boost U.S. roads' year-to-date totals. Through 2005's first seven weeks, the roads moved 2,321,298 carloads, up 2.4 percent, and 1,503,222 trailers and containers, up 10.4 percent compared with the same 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 215.2 billion ton-miles rose 3.2 percent.

Canadian railroads are picking up the pace, too. During the week ending Feb. 19, the roads increased carloads and intermodal loads 6.4 percent to 69,734 units and 7.8 percent to 42,123 units, respectively, compared with the same 2004 period. Through seven weeks, Canadian roads moved 453,677 carloads, up 3.2 percent, and 284,834 trailers and containers, up 3.3 percent compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through seven weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads boosted carloads 2.5 percent to 2,774,975 units and increased intermodal loads 9.2 percent to 1,788,056 units compared with the same 2004 period.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V. continues to move more carloads, but weekly intermodal traffic tumbled for the first time in nearly a year. During the week ending Feb. 19, TFM moved 8,671 carloads, up 7.2 percent, and 3,983 intermodal loads, down 1.1 percent compared with last year. Through seven weeks, carloads totaling 59,415 rose 7.1 percent and intermodal loads totaling 26,714 increased 18.6 percent compared with the same 2004 period.