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April 14, 2006 10:00 AM, EDT

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ail intermodal traffic jumped 8.7% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Intermodal volume was 175,439 containers, up 10.4% from last year, and 57,124 trailers, up 3.9%, AAR said in its weekly report.

Total rail carloads dipped 0.1% for the week, while total freight volume was about 33 billion ton-miles, up 1.2%.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.