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U.S. railroads’ ton-miles increased a tad, but carloads dipped slightly in 2009’s 50th week. During the week ending Dec. 19, their ton-miles rose 0.3 percent to an estimated 30.4 billion while carloads declined 0.1 percent to 271,819 units compared with totals from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

U.S. roads’ intermodal volume increased 9.4 percent to 209,759 containers and trailers. Container volume rose 18.6 percent while trailer volume dropped 20.1 percent.

Canadian railroads reported weekly carload volume of 65,815 units, up 6.5 percent, and intermodal volume of 41,952 units, up 2.3 percent year over year. Mexican railroads’ weekly carloads rose 24.8 percent to 15,061 units and intermodal volume jumped 34.9 percent to 6,785 units.

For more AAR data on North American railroads' traffic for the week ending Dec. 19 and through 2009’s first 50 weeks, follow this link.