Intermodal freight rail traffic in the United States picked up steam in 2013, according to newly figures released by the Association of American Railroads.

There were 12,831,692 intermodal units moved, up 4.6% from 2012, while U.S. railroads reported 14,608,403 carloads, down 0.5% during the same time.

Total combined U.S. railroad freight traffic for the 52 weeks of 2013 was 27,440,095 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8% from last year.

Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,083,936 carloads in 2013, up 1.8% from 2012 and 2,790,389 intermodal units, up 4.5% from last year.

Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for 2013 was 787,941 carloads, up 6.1% from 2012 and 518,804 intermodal units, down 0.4% from last year.

Combined North American rail volume for 2013 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 19,480,280 carloads, up 0.2% compared with last year and 16,140,885 intermodal trailers and containers, up 4.4% compared with 2012.