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 Oct ’21. Total cars online rebounded to a two year high level throughout the week ending Oct 30^th however grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds each remained below previous year levels.

Total Railcars Online:

Oct 30^th week ending total railcars online totaled 1,005,400, rebounding to a two year high level. Oct 30^th week ending total railcars online finished 3.5% above previous year figures and flat with pre-pandemic seasonal levels. Total railcar online figures have increased over five consecutive weeks through the week ending Oct 30^th.

Total railcars online reached record low levels following the significant declines in manufacturing experienced during the early stages of COVID-19. Railcars online have only partially rebounded since, despite manufacturing finishing slightly above pre-pandemic seasonal levels for the third consecutive month throughout Sep ’21.

Grain Rail Transportation:

Oct 30^th week ending grain train speeds of 22.5 MPH finished 1.5% below previous year levels and 0.5% below historical average grain train speeds. The YOY decline in grain train speeds was the seventh experienced in a row.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

Oct 30^th week ending ethanol train speeds of 22.0 MPH finished 6.1% below previous year levels and 3.9% below historical average ethanol train speeds. The YOY decline in ethanol train speeds was the sixth experienced in a row.