Weekly Railroad Service Report Update – 1/1/15
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) published the 11th weekly service report update for Class 1 railroads spanning data acquired from December 21st to December 27th. Overall, results showed mostly deteriorating conditions for both ethanol and grain transportation.
Ethanol Transportation:
• Average train speed for ethanol transportation decreased 3.1% week-over-week to 20.5 MPH. Ethanol train speed remains 4.0% above the initial data point released ten weeks ago but has fallen 0.7% below the previous ten week average grain train speed.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours increased sharply week-over-week, up 25.4% to a new 11 week high. Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours were 67.5% higher than the initial data point released ten weeks ago and 31.1% higher than the previous ten week average cars held 48-120 hours.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours increased slightly week-over-week, up 3.4%. Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours remain 2.4% lower than the initial data point released ten weeks ago and 23.5% lower than the previous ten week average cars held longer than 120 hours.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speed for grain transportation increased by 3.2% week-over-week to a three week high of 20.9 MPH. Grain train speed increased 0.7% above the initial data point released ten weeks ago and 2.3% above the previous ten week average grain train speed.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours increased sharply week-over-week, up 73.8% to a new 11 week high. Grain cars held 48-120 hours were 133.6% higher than the initial data point released ten weeks ago and 54.6% higher than the previous ten week average cars held 48-120 hours.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours increased 9.4% week-over-week. Grain cars held longer than 120 hours remain 15.1% lower than the initial data point released ten weeks ago and 27.8% lower than the previous ten week average cars held longer than 120 hours.