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Eighteen weeks into 2005, it doesn’t appear that U.S. railroads are losing any traffic-building momentum. During the week ending May 7, the roads boosted carloads 3.7 percent to 350,678 units and increased intermodal loads 5.6 percent to 222,674 units compared with the same 2004 week, according to Association of American Railroads data.

During 2005’s first 18 weeks, U.S. roads moved 6,150,267 carloads, up 2.6 percent, and 3,889,213 trailers and containers, up 7.2 percent compared with the same 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 572.3 billion ton-miles rose 3.5 percent.

Week No. 18 wasn’t good for Canadian railroads. During the week ending May 7, the roads’ carloads totaling 70,464 units and intermodal loads totaling 43,394 units dropped 3.8 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 week.

However, Canadian roads still are posting year-to-date traffic gains. Through 18 weeks, the roads’ carloads totaling 1,264,062 units rose 0.5 percent and intermodal loads totaling 757,050 units increased 3.6 percent compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 18 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 7,414,329 carloads, up 2.2 percent, and 4,646,263 trailers and containers, up 6.6 percent compared with a similar 2004 period.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s TFM S.A. de C.V. registered a so-so week as intermodal loads went up 9.9 percent to 4,039 units but carloads fell 1.5 percent to 8,628 units. Through 18 weeks, TFM boosted carloads 3.2 percent to 155,906 units and increased intermodal loads 9.8 percent to 68,579 units compared with last year.