Weekly Railroad Service Report Update – 1/29/15
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) published the 15th weekly service report update for Class 1 railroads spanning data acquired from January 18th to January 24th. Overall, ethanol and grain transportation speeds were flat to higher while weekly cars held longer than 120 hours declined for the third consecutive week.
Ethanol Transportation:
• Average train speeds for ethanol transportation rebounded slightly from two consecutive weekly declines, increasing 3.1% week-over-week to 21.2 MPH. Ethanol train speeds were 7.4% higher than the initial data point released 14 weeks ago and 1.6% higher than the previous 14 week average ethanol train speeds.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours declined slightly week-over-week, down 4.4%. Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours remain 15.2% higher than the initial data point released 14 weeks ago but were 12.8% lower than the previous 14 week average cars held 48-120 hours.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours declined for the third consecutive week, falling 38.6% to a new 15 week low. Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours were 48.4% lower than the previous 14 week average cars held longer than 120 hours.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speeds for grain transportation were flat week-over-week, unchanged at 21.7 MPH. Grain train speeds remain 4.7% higher than the initial data point released 14 weeks ago and 4.6% higher than the previous 14 week average grain train speeds.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours increased for the second consecutive week, finishing up 12.1%. Grain cars held 48-120 hours were 57.7% higher than the initial data point released 14 weeks ago and 1.1% higher than the previous 14 week average cars held 48-120 hours.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours declined for the third consecutive week, falling 11.7%. Grain cars held longer than 120 hours remain 6.8% higher than the initial data point released 14 weeks ago but were 11.4% lower than the previous 14 week average cars held longer than 120 hours.