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The good times still are rolling for U.S. railroads. During the week ending April 23, the roads boosted carloads 0.8 percent to 344,323 units and increased intermodal loads 5.7 percent to 225,201 units compared with the same 2004 week, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through the year’s first 16 weeks, U.S. roads moved 5,445,115 carloads, up 2.6 percent, and 3,440,286 trailers and containers, up 7.3 percent compared with last year. Total estimated volume of 506.3 billion ton-miles rose 3.5 percent.

Canadian railroads haven’t had a good time with carloads of late. During the week ending April 23, the roads’ carloads totaling 71,159 units dropped 4.8 percent compared with the same 2004 period — the second-straight weekly decline. But intermodal loads totaling 43,865 units increased 4.5 percent.

Through 16 weeks, Canadian roads boosted carloads 0.9 percent to 1,120,083 units and increased intermodal loads 4.2 percent to 668,358 units compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 16 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 6,565,198 carloads, up 2.3 percent, and 4,108,644 trailers and containers, up 6.8 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

TFM S.A. de C.V.’s weekly carloads are in a lull, too. During the week ending April 23, TFM’s carloads totaling 8,925 units decreased 2.9 percent compared with the same 2004 week. But the road’s intermodal loads totaling 4,218 units rose 15.2 percent. Through 16 weeks, TFM moved 138,073 carloads and 60,454 intermodal loads, a 3.8 percent and 9.4 percent increase, respectively, compared with last year.