US coal train loading volumes ticked higher week on week thanks to increases seen in the Powder River Basin and Central Appalachia.
Nationwide coal loadings averaged 100.5 trains/d in the week ending November 10, up from 97.2 trains/d the previous week, according to data filed to the Surface Transportation Board by the four major US railroads -- CSX, Union Pacific, BSNF and Norfolk Southern.
Volumes climbed the most in the PRB, with loadings increasing to 57.5 trains/d from 55 trains/d the prior week. CAPP counts rose to 16.8 trains/d from 15.8 trains/d.
Northern Appalachian volumes slid to 10.4 trains/d from 11.3 trains/d, and Illinois Basin counts declined to 7.4 trains/d from 8.2 trains/d.
In other production areas, Utica Basin loadings fell to 4.6 trains/d from 5 trains/d, while loadings from the outside the primary basins were up to 3.7 trains/d from 2.3 trains/d.
