In regard to traffic, I can give an observational report from my region of Texas (oil producing Permian basin). The frenetic drilling activity for oil and gas has pulled back dramatically in our area. However, the hundreds (thousands?) of wells drilled lay uncompleted for as much as one year. These wells are presently being completed with fracking and casing operations which require amazing amounts of frac sand, and miles of pipe. These commodities are keeping the rail lines active. Hydrochloric acid is another petroleum recovery product used in enormous amounts which is transported by rail. The resulting increase in oil and gas production has also caused an unprecedented amount of product pipelines being laid in this region. This has additionally resulted in amazing amounts of large pipe being transported by rail to respective locations. This type of activity has even revitalized unused lines such as the southern portion of the old KCM&O south of San Angelo, TX. Yard capacity in Odessa, TX has been greatly expanded, NEW sidings for frac sand, pipe lay-down yards, and HCI off-loading have been created all over the region, as well as the addition of a second main track from Midland to west of Odessa. A former branch of the ATSF between Lubbock and Seagraves, TX is very busy with these types of carloads in addition to existing agricultural loads. A former branch of the T&P between Monahans, TX and Hobbs, NM might be seeing more traffic than it has ever seen in its existence.
I don't have statistics to offer on these operations, but the resultant number of oil field commodity trains running is easily observed.
