Storms slow rail traffic, send coal loads down again

摘要

This month’s unprecedented winter weather in the eastern US dragged down coal shipments for eastern railroads that, prior to the storms, had experienced more moderate losses on shipments to utility customers. Both CSX and Norfolk Southern reported delays of 72 hours or more during points of the week ending February 7 after back-to-back storms dropped up several feet of snow on parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Many other areas received more than a foot as well as tropical storm-force winds that created whiteout conditions. One southeastern utility customer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it appears railroad deliveries to coal-fired power plants had yet to fully recover from the storms a week later. It also may be some time before the companies’ coal shipment statistics show a full recovery.