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In June, Union Pacific Railroad slightly boosted coal-train loading production in the southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) and Colorado/Utah region compared with May’s production. However, loadings still lagged far behind 2008’s pace.

Last month, the railroad averaged 29.4 trains per day in the SPRB compared with May’s 28.6-train-per-day average. But the Class I loaded 881 coal trains vs. June 2008’s 975 trains.

“There were 134 missed SPRB loading opportunities, 33 of which were attributable to the mines, 84 to utility plants and 17 to UP. These missed loading opportunities were partially offset with 58 extra loadings,” UP officials said in a weekly coal loading performance report. “Several utility plants have been experiencing higher-than-usual occurrences of breakdowns and slow unloading situations, which has delayed the return of empty trains for loading.”

The Class I also loaded 213 coal trains in the Colorado/Utah region last month, up from 193 trains in May, but down from 321 trains in June 2008.

“Loadings continue to be depressed due to coal production problems and lower demand from several plants,” UP officials said in the report.