Railroad Service Report Update – Mar ’16
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) published weekly service report updates for Class 1 railroads spanning data acquired through the end of Feb ’16. Overall, ethanol and grain transportation speeds remained above average levels throughout the month while weekly held cars remained below seasonal average levels.
Ethanol Transportation:
• Average train speeds for ethanol transportation declined slightly from the record high experienced during January but remain significantly higher YOY. Feb 27th ethanol train speeds of 24.1 MPH were 9.4% higher than the historical average ethanol train speeds and 20.3% higher on a YOY basis.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours remained below average seasonal levels throughout the month of February, finishing 56.1% lower than the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours also remained lower on a seasonal basis, finishing 55.8% below the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speeds for grain transportation also declined slightly from the record high experienced during January but remain significantly higher YOY. Feb 27th grain train speeds of 23.9 MPH were 8.6% higher than the historical average grain train speeds and 14.9% higher on a YOY basis.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours remained below average seasonal levels throughout the month of February, finishing 44.5% lower than the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours also remained lower on a seasonal basis, finishing 52.1% below the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
Total Cars Online:
• Feb 27th total cars online totaled 1.01 million, down 0.3% from the previous week and 2.7% below last year’s figures.
• Feb 27th total cars online by railway were led by Union Pacific, followed by BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern.
• Ethanol cars held 48-120 hours remained below average seasonal levels throughout the month of February, finishing 56.1% lower than the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
• Ethanol cars held longer than 120 hours also remained lower on a seasonal basis, finishing 55.8% below the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
Grain Transportation:
• Average train speeds for grain transportation also declined slightly from the record high experienced during January but remain significantly higher YOY. Feb 27th grain train speeds of 23.9 MPH were 8.6% higher than the historical average grain train speeds and 14.9% higher on a YOY basis.
• Grain cars held 48-120 hours remained below average seasonal levels throughout the month of February, finishing 44.5% lower than the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
• Grain cars held longer than 120 hours also remained lower on a seasonal basis, finishing 52.1% below the previous year during the week ending Feb 27th.
Total Cars Online:
• Feb 27th total cars online totaled 1.01 million, down 0.3% from the previous week and 2.7% below last year’s figures.
• Feb 27th total cars online by railway were led by Union Pacific, followed by BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern.