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For the 16th time in the past 21 weeks, U.S. railroads set a weekly intermodal traffic record. During the week ending Sept. 18, the roads moved 229,039 trailers and containers, a 1.3 percent increase compared with similar 2003 data, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Weekly carload traffic wasn't record-setting, but it wasn't too shabby either. The roads moved 346,007 units, a 0.9 percent increase compared with last year.

During 2004's first 37 weeks, U.S. roads moved 12,398,702 carloads, up 3.2 percent, and 7,685,763 trailers and containers, up 9.5 percent compared with similar 2003 data. Total estimated volume of 1.12 trillion ton-miles rose 4.3 percent.

Canadian roads scored some weekly and year-to-date traffic gains, too. During the week ending Sept. 18, the roads carloads totaling 68,708 units and intermodal loads totaling 43,905 units rose 3.5 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively, compared with a similar 2003 week.

Through 37 weeks, Canadian roads moved 2,463,801 carloads, up 8.4 percent, and 1,536,503 trailers and containers, up 0.1 percent compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 37 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 14,862,503 carloads, up 4 percent, and 9,222,266 trailers and containers, up 7.8 percent compared with similar 2003 data.

Meanwhile, TFM S.A. de C.V. remains in traffic-building mode. The road's weekly carloads totaling 8,795 units and intermodal loads totaling 3,027 units increased 17.2 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, compared with last year. Through 37 weeks, TFM moved 318,208 carloads, up 1.6 percent, and 134,934 trailers and containers, up 3.8 percent compared with similar 2003 data.