EVANSTON, Ill. — A new report from the Northwestern University Transpotation Center says the U.S. freight rail proved to be reliable and resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as other parts of the nation’s supply chain struggled.
The report, available here, was prepared by Northwestern’s Joseph Schofer, Hani Mahmassani, Max Ng, and Breton Johnson. It looked at shipment data and research literature, and drew on interviews with officials in the rail, intermodal carrier, and car-leasing industries, as well as shippers and and e-commerce companies.
“The role of intermodal rail service in support of consumers’ COVID-19-driven jump from in-person buying experiences to online shopping underscores the value of the railroads to American households,” Schofer, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, said in a press release announcing the report.
Ian Jefferies, CEO of the Association of American Railroads, said the reports “important research underscores the unique responsibility that freight railroads hold and illuminates the ways in which we can support recovery and a strong economic future.” The AAR contributed to the report, providing data and guidance.
