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US coal train loadings declined in the week ended March 19, despite loadings from Northern and Central Appalachia reaching multi-month highs, Surface Transportation Board data showed March 26.
Data filed to the STB by the four major Class I railroads — CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF and Norfolk Southern — show US loadings averaged 72.7 trains/day, down 4.1% from 75.8 trains/day in the prior week but 7.1% higher than the 67.9 trains/day averaged in the year-ago week.
Since Jan. 1, total loadings have averaged 70.4 trains/day, down 8.2% from 76.7 trains averaged in the same period a year ago.
Average PRB loadings fell to 37.3 trains/day in the latest week, down from 40.5 trains/day in the prior week, but up from 35 trains/day in the year-ago week.
Cumulative PRB loadings this year are at 38 trains/day, down from 43.7 trains/day averaged in the same period a year ago.
Central Appalachia loadings rose to a 12-week high 13.1 trains/day, up from 12.2 trains/day a week earlier, but down from 14 trains/day in the year-ago week.
Loadings from the CAPP region in 2021 have averaged 11.9 trains/day, down from 13.3 trains averaged a year ago.
Loadings in Northern Appalachia rose to a near 14-month high 11.2 trains/day, up from 10.4 in trains the prior week and 8.8 trains/day in the year-ago week. It was the ninth straight week that was higher than year-ago levels and highest weekly total since 11.3 trains/day in the week ended Jan. 17, 2020.
Cumulative loadings in Northern Appalachia have averaged 9.9 trains/day in 2021, up from 9.6 trains averaged last year.
Illinois Basin loadings fell to 5 trains/day, down from 6.2 trains a week earlier, but up from 4.4 trains/day averaged in the year ago-week.
Since Jan. 1, Illinois Basin loadings have averaged 4.7 trains/day, up from 4.1 trains a year ago.
Loadings from outside of the primary basins decreased to 6.2 trains/day, from 6.5 trains/day a week earlier, but higher than the 5.7 trains/day in the year-ago week.
Source: Platts