Biweekly Railroad Service Report Update – Jun ’15
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) published the 30th – 33rd weekly service report updates for Class 1 railroads spanning data acquired through the end of May ’15. Overall, ethanol and grain transportation speeds increased throughout the month while weekly held car results were mixed.
Ethanol Transportation:
• Average train speeds for ethanol transportation remained at above average levels during the month of May. May 30th ethanol train speeds of 22.6 MPH were 7.1% higher than the previous 32 week average ethanol train speeds and the third fastest on record.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours continue to decline throughout May, falling to a new low during the week ending May 16th and remaining at below average levels throughout the rest of the month. May 30th ethanol cars held 48-120 hours were 35.2% below the previous 32 week average ethanol cars held 48-120 hours.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours declined to a new low during the week ending May 9th before rising to a new high during the week ending May 30th. May 30th ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours were nearly double the previous 32 week average ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours as Norfolk Southern held cars increased sharply.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speeds for grain transportation increased to a new high during the week ending May 30th. May 30th grain train speeds of 22.8 MPH were 7.7% higher than the previous 32 week average grain train speeds.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours declined throughout May, falling to a new low during the week ending May 30th. May 30th grain cars held 48-120 hours were 31.8% lower than the previous 32 week average grain cars held 48-120 hours.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours increased to an eight week high during the week ending May 23rd before declining slightly during the week ending May 30th. May 30th grain cars held longer than 120 hours remained 22.1% lower than the previous 32 week average grain cars held longer than 120 hours.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours continue to decline throughout May, falling to a new low during the week ending May 16th and remaining at below average levels throughout the rest of the month. May 30th ethanol cars held 48-120 hours were 35.2% below the previous 32 week average ethanol cars held 48-120 hours.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours declined to a new low during the week ending May 9th before rising to a new high during the week ending May 30th. May 30th ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours were nearly double the previous 32 week average ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours as Norfolk Southern held cars increased sharply.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speeds for grain transportation increased to a new high during the week ending May 30th. May 30th grain train speeds of 22.8 MPH were 7.7% higher than the previous 32 week average grain train speeds.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours declined throughout May, falling to a new low during the week ending May 30th. May 30th grain cars held 48-120 hours were 31.8% lower than the previous 32 week average grain cars held 48-120 hours.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours increased to an eight week high during the week ending May 23rd before declining slightly during the week ending May 30th. May 30th grain cars held longer than 120 hours remained 22.1% lower than the previous 32 week average grain cars held longer than 120 hours.