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Last month, Union Pacific Railroad loaded 1,013 coal trains in the southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) — the most since January. However, train loadings dropped 14 percent compared with July 2008’s 1,174 loadings.

The Class I met 100 percent of SPRB coal demand for the month despite 84 missed loading opportunities, 47 of which were attributable to mines, 31 to utility plants, five to UP and one to a “miscellaneous” problem, according to the railroad’s weekly coal loading performance report. Missed loading opportunities were partially offset by 75 extra loadings.

“Several utility plants have been experiencing occurrences of breakdowns and slow unloading situations, which has delayed the return of empty trains for loading,” UP officials said in the report.

In July, the Class I also loaded 250 coal trains in Colorado and Utah — the most since March, but down 27 percent compared with July 2008’s 343 trains.