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How are railroads performing so far in the fall peak? Not too shabbily, according to Bank of America Securities’ fourth-quarter survey of about 1,400 rail shippers.

Thirty-three percent of the respondents said rail service had improved compared with 26 percent in the firm’s third-quarter survey. In addition, 58 percent of the respondents believed service hadn’t changed and only 8 percent said service had worsened compared with 19 percent in the third-quarter poll.

“These results are encouraging, though we note lower volume growth, which is putting less pressure on the networks, likely is partly responsible,” said analyst Scott Flower in a survey summary.

Canadian National Railway Co., BNSF Railway Co. and Norfolk Southern Corp. received the highest marks from shippers as having the best price-service relationships. Union Pacific Railroad received the lowest mark.

On average, shippers anticipated rail rates increasing about 4.9 percent during the next six to 12 months — down from a projected 5.3 percent rate hike noted in the third-quarter survey.

“We believe a variety of factors, such as lesser rail fuel intensity vs. alternative modes, may sustain pricing rates in the near term,” said Flower. “[But] loosening truckload capacity and lower fuel prices may lessen the pace of yield growth on a lagging basis.”