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U.S. railroads maintained their traffic-building momentum during the week ending March 5. The roads boosted carloads 4.1 percent to 343,546 units and increased intermodal loads 7.6 percent to 215,066 units compared with the same 2004 period, according to Association of American Railroads data.

During 2005's first nine weeks, U.S. roads moved 3,016,278 carloads, up 2.7 percent, and 1,939,635 trailers and containers, up 10.3 percent compared with a similar 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 280 billion ton-miles rose 3.6 percent.

Canadian railroads registered strong weekly traffic figures, too. During the week ending March 5, the roads' carloads totaling 69,609 units and intermodal loads totaling 43,689 units increased 4.2 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 week. Through nine weeks, Canadian roads boosted carloads 3.2 percent to 592,229 units and increased intermodal loads 6 percent to 369,644 units compared with the same 2004 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through nine weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 3,608,507 carloads, up 2.7 percent, and 2,309,279 trailers and containers, up 9.5 percent compared with last year.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V. continues to move more traffic. During the week ending March 5, the railroad boosted carloads 3.5 percent to 9,046 units and increased intermodal loads 7.9 percent to 3,970 units compared with the same 2004 week. Through nine weeks, TFM moved 78,005 carloads, up 7.8 percent, and 34,892 trailers and containers, up 16 percent.