Newly released data by the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI) shows a significant increase in railcar orders and only minor decreases in deliveries and backlogs in 2024’s second quarter, compared to 1Q24, but declines in all three measurements compared to the prior-year period.
In 2Q24, railcar orders increased 63.8% to 9,606 from 1Q24’s 5,864. Deliveries dipped 2.8% to 10,781 from the prior quarter’s 11,087. The backlog decreased 2.6% to 45,238 from the prior quarter’s 46,413.
Railcar orders, deliveries and backlogs for 2Q24 showed losses compared to the prior-year quarter. Orders fell 40.7% from the 16,194 posted in 2Q23. Deliveries slid 9.6% from the 11,919 logged in 2Q23. The backlog was down 24.5% from the 59,878 logged for the same period last year.
The data includes information on covered hoppers (over 5,500 c/f, 3,500-5,500 c/f, under 3,500 c/f); open top hoppers (steel, aluminum); gondolas (GB steel, GT steel, GT aluminum); flat cars (non-intermodal, intermodal); non-articulated/articulated (five-unit platforms, other platforms); and tank cars.
