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Another week, another intermodal traffic record for U.S. railroads. During the week ending Oct. 15, the railroads moved 249,644 trailers and containers, besting the previous record of 246,530 units set two weeks ago and increasing volume 8 percent compared with the same 2004 week, according to the Association of American Railroads.

However, the railroads’ carload traffic dipped for the second-straight week. During the week ending Oct. 15, the roads moved 325,549 carloads, down 5.5 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

During 2005’s first 41 weeks, U.S. railroads moved 13.6 million carloads, up 1.1 percent, and 9.2 million intermodal loads, up 6.3 percent compared with the same 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 1.33 trillion ton-miles rose 2.6 percent.

Canadian railroads had similar traffic fortunes during the week ending Oct. 15. The roads’ carload totaling 76,019 units dropped 2.6 percent but intermodal loads totaling 44,239 units increased 4.6 percent compared with the same 2004 week.

Through 41 weeks, Canadian railroads moved 3.1 million carloads, down 0.7 percent, and 1.8 million trailers and containers, up 3.0 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 41 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads boosted carloads 0.8 percent to 16.8 million units and increased intermodal loads 5.8 percent to 10.9 million units compared with 2004’s first 41 weeks.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V.’s traffic continues to tumble. During the week ending Oct. 15, the railroad’s carloads totaling 8,389 units and intermodal loads totaling 4,032 units fell 11.2 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 week. Through 41 weeks, TFM moved 344,332 carloads, down 3.3 percent, and 157,150 trailers and containers, up 3.3 percent compared with the same 2004 period.