ARCI: Freight Car Market Performing Well
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
A finished tank car emerges from Greenbrier’s Concarril assembly plant in Sahagún, Mexico. Photo: William C. Vantuono
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) American Railway Car Institute Committee (ARCI) has released 4Q2023 data indicating a freight car market that has performed well since the pandemic, with a healthy backlog closing out 2023.
ARCI figures show a generally stable backlog of an average 57,231 railcars throughout the past five quarters. Though orders dropped in 4Q23 to 4,164 from 11,525 in the prior-year quarter, last year’s second quarter was particularly strong, at 16,194—well above 1Q23 and 3Q23. Deliveries in 2023 held steady at an average 11,189 per quarter. 2023 saw a strong 38,111 orders, 2.5% higher than 2019’s pre-pandemic 37,196—which fell by nearly 20,000 units the following year, completely recovered in 2021 and then skyrocketed by more than 23,000 units in 2022. Deliveries since 2019’s 58,000-plus level continue to grow steadily, increasing 9.9% in 2023 from the prior calendar year.
