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 Nov ’21. Total cars online rebounded to a two year high level throughout the week ending Nov 27^th however grain and ethanol rail transportation speeds each remained below previous year levels.

Total Railcars Online:

Nov 27^th week ending total railcars online totaled 1,010,200, rebounding to a two year high level. Nov 27^th week ending total railcars online finished 4.1% above previous year figures and 1.5% above pre-pandemic seasonal levels, reaching a three year high seasonal level. Total railcar online figures have increased over nine consecutive weeks through the week ending Nov 27^th.

Total railcars online reached record low levels following the significant declines in manufacturing experienced during the early stages of COVID-19. Manufacturing has rebounded to levels slightly above pre-pandemic seasonal figures for the fourth consecutive month throughout Oct ’21, reaching a two and a half year high level, overall.

Grain Rail Transportation:

Nov 27^th week ending grain train speeds of 22.3 MPH finished 4.1% below previous year levels and 0.5% below historical average grain train speeds. The YOY decline in grain train speeds was the 11^th experienced in a row.

Ethanol Rail Transportation:

Nov 27^th week ending ethanol train speeds of 22.8 MPH finished 2.6% below previous year levels and 0.4% below historical average ethanol train speeds. The YOY decline in ethanol train speeds was the tenth experienced in a row.