US coal train loadings have fallen for the first time in a month as volumes declined from the 

eastern basins, Surface Transportation Board filings show. 

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

-- for the week ended June 2 shows nationwide coal loadings averaged 94.6 trains/d, down 

from 97 trains/d the previous week. 

Increased activity in the Powder River Basin was offset by weakening in the basins east of t

he Mississippi River. Central Appalachia fell the furthest, with coal loading volumes down to 

14.7 trains/d from 16.7 trains/d the previous week. 

Northern  Appalachian  volumes  fell  to 9.3 trains/d from 10.6 trains/d, and counts from the 

Illinois Basin slid to 7.8 trains/d from 8.1 trains/d. 

PRB  loadings  grew for the fourth straight week, with volumes up to 55.7 trains/d from 54.3 

trains/d the prior week. 

Outside the major production areas, Utica Basin loadings were down to 3.6 trains/d from 3.

9 trains/d and loadings from outside the primary basins were flat at 3.4 trains/d.