Weekly service report updates for Class 1 railroads provided by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) were recently updated with values spanning through the end of Jan ’22. Total cars online remained at a three year high seasonal level throughout the week ending Jan 29^th however grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds each remained below previous year levels.

Total Railcars Online:

Jan 29^th week ending total railcars online totaled 1,004,200, finishing 2.5% above previous year figures and 1.1% above pre-pandemic seasonal levels. Total railcar online figures finished slightly below recent two year high levels but remained at a three year high seasonal level.

Total railcars online reached record low levels following the significant declines in manufacturing experienced during the early stages of COVID-19. Manufacturing has rebounded to levels slightly above pre-pandemic seasonal figures for the fourth consecutive month throughout Dec ’21, remaining near the two and a half year high level experienced throughout the previous month.

Grain Rail Transportation:

Jan 29^th week ending grain train speeds of 22.3 MPH finished 3.8% below previous year levels and 1.4% below historical average grain train speeds. The YOY decline in grain train speeds was the 20^th experienced in a row.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

Jan 29^th week ending ethanol train speeds of 22.2 MPH finished 2.1% below previous year levels and 2.9% below historical average ethanol train speeds. The YOY decline in ethanol train speeds was the 18^th experienced throughout the past 19 weeks.