US coal train loadings volumes have remained strong, and increases this week across all the major basins pushed totals to a new year-high mark.
Data filed by the four major US railroads -- CSX, Union Pacific, BSNF and Norfolk Southern -- for the week ended August 11 showed nationwide coal loadings averaged 108.7 trains/d, up from 106.3 trains/d the previous week. Totals have stayed above 100 trains/d for four straight weeks.
Powder River Basin loadings climbed to a year-high 64.4 trains/d, up from the previous 2017-best 63.8 trains/d in the previous two weeks. PRB counts have stayed above 60 trains/d in six of the last seven weeks.
Central Appalachian loadings increased to 15.8 trains/d from 15.4 trains/d, and Northern Appalachian loadings grew to 12.1 trains/d from 11.8 trains/d.
Illinois Basin loadings climbed to 8 trains/d from 7.1 trains/d.
In other production areas, Utica Basin loadings dipped to 3.8 trains/d from 4.3 trains/d, while loadings from the outside the primary basins were up to 4.6 trains/d from 3.8 trains/d.
