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The week of Feb. 21 was by far U.S. railroads' best seven-day traffic period in 2004, according to Association of American Railroads data released Feb. 26. The roads moved 333,337 carloads, up 8.6 percent, and 181,566 trailers and containers, up 3.5 percent compared with the same 2003 period (which included heavy eastern snowstorms). Estimated total volume of 29.9 billion ton-miles rose 10.3 percent.

During 2004's first seven weeks, U.S. roads moved 2,269,369 carloads, up 2 percent, and 1,361,122 trailers and containers, up 5.5 percent compared with a similar 2003 period.

Canadian roads moved more weekly carloads but fewer intermodal loads compared with the same 2003 week. Carloads totaling 65,976 rose 7.2 percent; intermodal loads totaling 39,221 dropped 1.1 percent.

During the year's first seven weeks, Canadian roads moved 442,873 carloads, up 3.1 percent, and 276,602 trailers and containers, down 0.3 percent compared with the same 2003 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through seven weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 2,712,242 carloads, up 2.2 percent, and 1,637,724 trailers and containers, up 4.5 percent compared with last year.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V.'s traffic continues to sag. Through seven weeks, the railroad moved 55,491 carloads, down 10.1 percent, and 22,564 trailers and containers, down 12.9 percent compared with the same 2003 period. During the week ending Feb. 21, TFM moved 11.1 percent fewer carloads, but intermodal loads rose 6.3 percent.