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During the week ending March 26, U.S. railroads’ carloads dipped 0.2 percent to 342,187 units compared with the same 2004 period. But the week included Good Friday — a holiday for many U.S. roads – and the corresponding 2004 week did not, according to the Association of American Railroads. The roads still increased weekly intermodal traffic 1.2 percent, moving 211,228 trailers and containers.

During 2005’s first 12 weeks, U.S. roads moved 4,052,550 carloads, up 2.6 percent, and 2,576,994 trailers and containers, up 8.5 percent compared with last year. Total estimated volume of 376.4 billion ton-miles rose 3.4 percent.

Good Friday had a larger impact on Canadian railroads’ traffic. During the week ending March 26, the roads’ carloads totaling 65,851 units and intermodal loads totaling 42,082 units dropped 7.4 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 week. Through 12 weeks, Canadian railroads boosted carloads 1.6 percent to 795,200 units and increased intermodal loads 6 percent to 496,743 units compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis though 12 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 4,847,750 carloads, up 2.4 percent, and 3,073,737 trailers and containers, up 8.1 percent compared with last year.

Mexico’s TFM S.A. de C.V. felt the effect of the holiday, too. During the week ending March 26, TFM’s carloads totaling 7,101 units decreased 20.4 percent and intermodal loads totaling 2,262 units fell 39.8 percent compared with the same 2004 week. Through 12 weeks, the railroad moved 102,270 cars, up 3.6 percent, and 44,422 trailers and containers, up 6.6 percent compared with last year.