Weekly US coal train  loading  volumes  strengthened  week  on  week  across  all  major

basins, Surface Transportation Board filings show. 

Data filed by the four major US railroads -- CSX, Union Pacific, BSNF and Norfolk Souther

n -- for  the  week  ending  February 17  shows nationwide coal loadings averaged 105.2 

trains/day,up from 102.9 the prior week. 

Powder River Basin loadings increased in the latest reports to 63.8 trains/d from 63 the p

revious week, falling just short of tying year-high average of 63.9 in mid-January. 

Central Appalachian coal loading volumes were up to 14.7 trains/d from 14.2 the previous 

week, while Northern Appalachian grew to 12 trains/d from 11.5. 

Illinois Basin loadings increased to a year-high 8.3 trains/d from 7.5. IB loadings were last 

higher in early September last year. 

Utica Basin coal train loadings were flat at 4 trains/d, and loadings from outside the primar

y basins slipped to 2.4 trains/d from 2.7.