By Jim Levesque and Lisa Miller

January 23, 2017 - For the second straight week, US coal train loadings increased across all major basins, with nationwide volumes rising 8.8% week on week.

Data filed by the four major US railroads -- CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF and Norfolk Southern -- with the Surface Transportation Board for the week ending January 13 shows US coal train loadings averaged 97.3 trains/day, up from 89.4 in the first week of 2017.

Powder River Basin loadings were up to 59.5 trains/d from 55.1 the previous week. PRB loadings had dipped to 50.3 trains/d during the Christmas holiday week.

Central Appalachian loadings increased to 13.8 trains/d from 12.5 the prior week, and Northern Appalachian volumes grew to 10.7 trains/d from 9.2.

Illinois Basin loadings climbed to 7.3 trains/d from 6.7.

Utica Basin coal train loadings slipped to 4.1 trains/d from 4.6 the previous week, and loadings from outside the primary basins increased to 1.9 trains/d from 1.3.