Coal train loadings in the US dipped in the week ended November 3, declining to their lowest level since the holiday-shortened week ended July 7, according to Surface Transportation Board data.
An average of 97.2 trains/d loaded during the week, down 2.8% from last week and down 10.8% from the year-ago week. Loadings have averaged more than 100 trains/d for much of the summer.
In the Powder River Basin, an average of 55 trains/d loaded during the week, down 2% from the prior week and down 17.2% from the year-ago week. It was the lowest daily average since the week ended May 19.
Illinois Basin loadings averaged 8.2 trains/d, up 5.8% from the prior week and up 17.4% from the year-ago week.
Central Appalachia loadings averaged 15.8 trains/d, down 8.8% from last week but up 17% from last year, while Northern Appalachia loadings averaged 11.3 trains/d, up 1.3% from the prior week but down 14.1% from the year-ago week.
The loadings reflect data submitted weekly to the STB by CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific.
