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

• Mar 3^rd week ending total railcars online totaled 1.052 million, finishing 0.3% below the three year high experienced during the week ending Feb 10^th but remaining higher on a YOY basis for the 63^rd consecutive week, finishing up 2.0%.

Grain Rail Transportation:

• Mar 3^rd week ending average train speeds for grain transportation remained lower on a YOY basis for the tenth consecutive week. Mar 3^rd week ending grain train speeds of 21.6 MPH finished 4.7% lower YOY and 3.9% below historical average grain train speeds.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

• Mar 3^rd week ending average train speeds for ethanol transportation finished lower on a YOY basis for the ninth time in the past ten weeks. Mar 3^rd week ending ethanol train speeds of 21.9 MPH finished 8.6% lower YOY and 4.2% below historical average ethanol train speeds.