Weekly Railroad Service Report Update – 11/13/14
On October 8th, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) published a decision announcing new weekly data reporting requirements for Class 1 railroads. Reporting requirements for ethanol and grain transportation include:
• System-average weekly train speed
• Average weekly terminal dwell time at origin
• Total weekly number of trains held short of destination for longer than six hours
• Total weekly number of cars that have not moved for 48-120 hours
• Total weekly number of cars that have not moved for longer than 120 hours
As of November 12th, there have been four weekly reports spanning data acquired from October 19th to November 8th. Although data remains sparse, ethanol and grain transportation conditions appear to have continued to deteriorate. Average train speeds have declined and a greater number of cars are not moving, implying continued congestion and a backlog of trains throughout the railroad system.
Ethanol Transportation:
• Average train speed for ethanol transportation declined slightly week-over-week, down 1.6% to 17.9 MPH. Train speed for ethanol transportation is 12.0% lower than the initial data point released four week ago.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours increased 26.1% from the previous week to a four-week high of 4,642 cars. Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours have increased by 40.5% since the initial data point released four weeks ago.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours declined 29.5% week-over-week, to a total of 408 cars. Despite the week-over-week decline, the number of ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours remain 39.2% higher than the initial data point released four weeks ago.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speed for grain transportation declined 4.6% week-over-week to a new four-week low of 19.8 MPH. Train speed for grain transportation is 4.8% lower than the initial data point released four week ago.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours increased 41.8% from the previous week to a four-week high of 2,513 cars. Grain cars held 48-120 hours have increased by 75.9% since the initial data point released four weeks ago.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours increased 27.0% week-over-week, to a total of 583 cars. Grain cars held longer than 120 hours have increased by 57.9% since the initial data point released four weeks ago.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours increased 26.1% from the previous week to a four-week high of 4,642 cars. Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours have increased by 40.5% since the initial data point released four weeks ago.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours declined 29.5% week-over-week, to a total of 408 cars. Despite the week-over-week decline, the number of ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours remain 39.2% higher than the initial data point released four weeks ago.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speed for grain transportation declined 4.6% week-over-week to a new four-week low of 19.8 MPH. Train speed for grain transportation is 4.8% lower than the initial data point released four week ago.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours increased 41.8% from the previous week to a four-week high of 2,513 cars. Grain cars held 48-120 hours have increased by 75.9% since the initial data point released four weeks ago.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours increased 27.0% week-over-week, to a total of 583 cars. Grain cars held longer than 120 hours have increased by 57.9% since the initial data point released four weeks ago.