Bolstered by rising volumes in the East, US weekly coal train loadings have steamed ahead to a new year-high mark.
Data filed by the four major US railroads -- CSX, Union Pacific, BSNF and Norfolk Southern -- with the Surface Transportation Board for the week ending August 19 showed nationwide coal loadings averaged 106.7 trains/day, up from 103 the prior week.
US weekly loading were last higher the week ending December 11 at 110.8 trains/d.
Nationwide loadings have averaged 86 trains/d in the first 33 weeks of the year compared to 120.3 trains/d in the year-ago period.
Coal loadings in the major eastern basins all strengthened from the previous week.
Central Appalachian coal loadings increased to a 14.7 trains/d from 13.3, and Northern Appalachian volumes grew to 11.6 trains/d from 10.3.
Illinois Basin coal loadings were up to 9.6 trains/d from 9.1.
Loadings in the Powder River Basin remand strong for 2016, with volumes averaging 63.4 trains/d for the second straight week.
PRB loadings have averaged 49.1 trains/d in the first 33 weeks this year, down from 68.4 in the same period of 2015, but are up to 62.6 in the last six weeks.
Utica Basin coal train loadings were up slightly on week to 4.7 trains/d from 4.4, and loadings from outside the primary basins inched up to 2.7 trains/d from 2.4.
