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 Feb ’22. Total cars online rebounded to a two and a half year high level throughout the week ending Feb 26^th however grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds each remained below previous year levels.

Total Railcars Online:

Feb 26^th week ending total railcars online totaled 1,017,600, finishing 3.5% above previous year figures and 2.5% above pre-pandemic seasonal levels. Total railcar online figures rebounded to a two and a half year high level, overall.

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 Jan ’22, rebounding to a three year high level.

Grain Rail Transportation:

Feb 26^th week ending grain train speeds of 21.1 MPH finished 6.6% below previous year levels and 6.9% below historical average grain train speeds. The YOY decline in grain train speeds was the 24^th experienced in a row.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

Feb 26^th week ending ethanol train speeds of 21.3 MPH finished 0.4% below previous year levels and 6.8% below historical average ethanol train speeds. The YOY decline in ethanol train speeds was the 21^st experienced throughout the past 23 weeks.