US coal train loadings climbed for the second straight week with continued increases in Powder River Basin volumes.
Data filed by the four major US railroads -- CSX, Union Pacific, BSNF and Norfolk Southern -- for the week ended July 21 showed nationwide coal loadings averaged 100.9 trains/d, up from 99.7 trains/d the previous week.
PRB loadings grew to 61.9 trains/d from 60.1 trains/d the previous week, to reach a high not seen since mid-February. PRB volumes have strengthened amid summertime demand and have topped the 60 trains/d mark in three of the past four weeks.
Illinois Basin loadings also gained some steam as counts rose to 8.1 trains/d from 7.7 trains/d.
Northern Appalachia loadings were flat week on week at 10.4 trains/d, while Central Appalachian volumes slipped to 12.2 trains/d from 14.4 trains/d.
In other production areas, Utica Basin loadings were up to 4.7 trains/d from to 3.6 trains/d, and loadings from outside the primary basins dipped to 3.6 trains/d from 3.8 trains/d.
