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 ’22. Total cars online rebounded to a two and a half year high level throughout the week ending Apr 2^nd but remained below pre-pandemic seasonal levels. Grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds each remained below previous year levels.

Total Railcars Online:

Apr 2^nd week ending total railcars online totaled 1,024,100, finishing 4.0% above previous year figures but remaining 1.8% below pre-pandemic seasonal levels. Total railcar online figures rebounded to a two and a half year high level, overall.

Total railcars online reached record low levels following the significant declines in manufacturing experienced during the early stages of COVID-19. The Federal Reserve Manufacturing Index rebounded to a 13 year high level throughout Feb ’22.

Grain Rail Transportation:

Apr 2^nd week ending grain train speeds of 21.9 MPH finished 2.5% below previous year levels and 3.0% below historical average grain train speeds. The YOY decline in grain train speeds was the 29^th experienced in a row.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

Apr 2^nd week ending ethanol train speeds of 22.0 MPH finished 3.7% below previous year levels and 3.9% below historical average ethanol train speeds. The YOY decline in ethanol train speeds was the 24^th experienced throughout the past 28 weeks.