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 Mar ’18. Overall, total cars online remained higher on a YOY basis while grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds finished lower. Total Railcars Online:

• Mar 31^st week ending total railcars online totaled 1.055 million, finishing 0.1% below the three year high experienced during the week ending Feb 10^th but remaining higher on a YOY basis for the 67^th consecutive week, finishing up 2.6%.

Grain Rail Transportation:

• Mar 31^st week ending average train speeds for grain transportation remained lower on a YOY basis for the 13^th time in the past 14 weeks. Mar 31^st week ending grain train speeds of 21.0 MPH finished 6.2% lower YOY and 6.5% below historical average grain train speeds.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

• Mar 31^st week ending average train speeds for ethanol transportation also finished lower on a YOY basis for the 13^th time in the past 14 weeks. Mar 31^st week ending ethanol train speeds of 21.6 MPH finished 6.4% lower YOY and 5.6% below historical average ethanol train speeds.