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 Jan ’18. Overall, total cars online remained higher on a YOY basis while grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds were mixed. Grain rail transportation speeds finished lower on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive week however ethanol rail transportation speeds increased slightly YOY, finishing higher for the first time in the past six weeks. Total Railcars Online:

• Feb 3^rd week ending total railcars online totaled 1.044 million, finishing 0.4% below the three year high experienced during the previous week but remaining higher on a YOY basis for the 59^th consecutive week, finishing up 1.0%.

Grain Rail Transportation:

• Feb 3^rd week ending average train speeds for grain transportation remained lower on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive week. Feb 3^rd week ending grain train speeds of 21.5 MPH finished 6.2% lower YOY and 4.8% below historical average grain train speeds.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

• Feb 3^rd week ending average train speeds for ethanol transportation finished higher on a YOY basis for the first time in the past six weeks. Feb 3^rd week ending ethanol train speeds of 22.4 MPH finished 0.4% higher YOY but remained 2.0% below historical average ethanol train speeds.