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Thousands of US coal carloads faced delays on CSX rails: STB filings

Coal carloads moving along CSX rails faced the most delays of the four major US railroads for the week ended March 13, according to data filed this week with the Surface Transportation Board.

In its EP 724 filing, CSX reported that 3,268 loaded coal cars and 3,297 empty coal cars in revenue service were not moved for 48 to 120 hours, and 1,079 loaded and 1,145 empty coal cars were not moved after waiting more than 120 hours. There were also 44 coal cars held short of their destination or scheduled interchange for longer than six hours.

CSX reported that 50,767 open hopper cars, which are primarily used for transporting coal, traveled the railroad during the week out of a total volume of 215,881 cars.

On average, each day 1,434.7 cars on the railroad were loaded with Central Appalachian coal, 745.6 cars were loaded with Northern Appalachian coal, 397.7 cars were loaded with Illinois Basin coal and 172.9 cars were loaded with Southern Appalachian coal.
The STB began requiring all Class I railroads to file weekly EP 724 reports in October following prolonged industrywide delays in rail shipments. The STB said the new data that would "promote industrywide transparency, accountability and improvements in rail service."

Union Pacific reported that 1,883 loaded coal cars and 1,725 empty coal cars in revenue service were not moved for 48 to 120 hours, and 327 loaded and 91 empty coal cars were not moved after waiting more than 120 hours. There were also 59 coal cars held short of their destination or scheduled interchange for longer than six hours.

Union Pacific reported that 45,395 open hopper cars traveled the railroad during the week out of a total volume of 290,306 cars.

On average, each day 21.3 cars on the railroad were loaded with Powder River Basin coal, 5.1 cars loaded with Unita Basin coal and 0.6 car were loaded with Illinois Basin coal.

Norfolk Southern reported that 2,727 loaded coal cars and six empty coal cars in revenue service were not moved for 48 to 120 hours, and 815 loaded and one empty coal car were not moved after waiting more than 120 hours. There were also 64 coal cars held short of their destination or scheduled interchange for longer than six hours.

Norfolk Southern reported that 38,067 open hopper cars traveled the railroad during the week out of a total volume of 188,867 cars.

On average, each day 9.0 cars on the railroad were loaded with Central Appalachian coal, 7.7 cars were loaded with Northern Appalachian Coal and 5.6 cars were loaded with Illinois Basin coal.

BNF reported that 146 loaded coal cars and 679 empty coal cars in revenue service were not moved for 48 to 120 hours, and 234 loaded and 916 empty coal cars were not moved after waiting more than 120 hours. There were also 234 coal cars held short of their destination or scheduled interchange for longer than six hours.

BNSF reported that 65,427 open hopper cars traveled the railroad during the week out of a total volume of 239,416 cars.

On average, each day there were 50.3 cars on the railroad loaded with Powder River Basin coal and 3.1 cars loaded with coal from outside the primary basins.

source: http://www.platts.com