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U.S. rail traffic continues to boom. During the week ending Oct. 30, U.S. railroads originated 292,884 carloads, up 6.3 percent, and 232,717 intermodal loads, up 14.2 percent compared with volumes from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Thirteen of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains, while container volume jumped 15.7 percent and trailer volume rose 6.5 percent. Intermodal volumes have moderated from mid-September highs, “supporting the belief that peak volumes were pulled forward,” said Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. analysts in their weekly “Rail Flash” report.

“That said, absolute volumes remain above first-half levels, consistent with Union Pacific commentary of an elongated peak season into late November,” they said. “We expect both domestic and international growth to continue given ongoing domestic truckload conversion and modest economic growth, but expect trends to further moderate as comparisons firm.”

Canadian railroads reported weekly volume of 76,341 carloads, up 7.5 percent, and 49,691 containers and trailers, up 16.3 percent year over year. During the week ending Oct. 30, Mexican railroads increased carload volume 14.4 percent to 14,570 units and boosted intermodal volume 9.8 percent to 7,779 units.

Through 2010’s first 43 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 16 million carloads, up 9.7 percent, and 11.7 million containers and trailers, up 15.1 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Oct. 30 and through 43 weeks, follow this link.