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International freight sector traffic growth of 3.4 percent in 2010 confirmed economic and trade recovery, while international passenger sector traffic growth of 3.5 percent last year showed the steady development of rail ridership in Asia, particularly in India, according to a report recently issued by the International Union of Railways (UIC). Freight traffic was measured in ton-kilometers and passenger traffic was measured in passenger-kilometers.

Freight traffic increased 8 percent year over year in Russia, an “extremely dynamic freight sector” that represents almost a quarter of ton-kilometers transported in the world, according to the UIC. The United States and Canada, which account for more than 25 percent of total tonnage transported worldwide, notched a 4 percent traffic increase last year.

China’s freight traffic fell 3 percent while Africa’s rose 1.5 percent. The Indian Railways registered a 9 percent gain, followed closely by the Kazakh Railways’ 8 percent increase.

In the passenger transport sector, growth worldwide remained steady, UIC officials said in the report. Asia registered an 8 percent gain and China — which accounts for one-third of reported traffic volume — logged a slight a 0.4 percent increase. The Indian Railways, which accounts for about half of the Asian region’s passenger traffic, boosted passenger-kilometers by 8 percent.

Meanwhile, passenger traffic in Russia declined 9 percent while traffic in all of Europe remained stable, the UIC said. Africa’s passenger traffic inched up 0.2 percent.