U.S. Railroads Chart Steadier Course After Wild 2020 Ride

In the week that marked the anniversary of China’s initial lockdown of Wuhan to curb spread of Covid-19, three of the U.S.’s biggest rail companies coming off wild rides last year tried to spell out what 2021 may bring.

Supply-chain disruptions moving goods from factories and farms through ports and warehouses to businesses and homes saw rail volumes in the world’s biggest economy plummet last April, reaching multi-year lows, though still above the usual year-end drop in carloads, data from the Association of American Railroads show.

With health protocols encouraging those who could to work and learn from home, consumers stocked up on goods to turn rooms into makeshift offices and to entertain themselves, leading to a rundown in inventories. A push to replenish shelves saw rail carloads soar to record levels just before the holiday gift-giving season.