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 May ’21. Total cars online remained near recently experienced one year high levels, finishing higher on a YOY basis but remaining below 2019 seasonal levels. Grain rail transportation speeds declined on a YOY basis for the 31^st consecutive week while ethanol rail transportation speeds finished lower for the 30^th consecutive week.

Total Railcars Online:

May 29^th week ending total railcars online totaled 976,300, finishing 1.2% below the one year high level experienced throughout the third week of March but remaining 3.8% above the record low level experienced throughout May ’20. Online railcar figures have been compiled since the fourth quarter of 2014. May 29^th week ending total railcars online finished 3.6% above previous year figures but remained 4.9% below 2019 seasonal levels.

Total railcars online reached record low levels following the significant declines in manufacturing experienced during the early stages of COVID-19. Manufacturing and railcars online have each rebounded partially since, but remain below previous year levels.

Grain Rail Transportation:

May 29^th week ending grain train speeds of 22.3 MPH finished 12.7% below previous year levels and 1.6% below historical average grain train speeds. The YOY decline in grain train speeds was the 31^st experienced in a row.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

May 29^th week ending ethanol train speeds of 22.7 MPH finished 9.4% below previous year levels and 1.0% below historical average ethanol train speeds. The YOY decline in ethanol train speeds was the 30^th experienced in a row.