November 27, 2020 - Weekly US coal carload originations totaled 63,032 in the week ended Nov. 21, up 4.3% from the previous week, but down 16.7% from the year-ago week, Association of American Railroads data showed Nov. 25.
 
Originations totaled more than 2.7 million in the most recent week, down 25.8% from the year-ago period.
 
The five-year average for carloads in week 47 is 81,811, leaving the most recent week at a 23% deficit.
 
Coal produced 11.8% of total US traffic, the highest percentage in seven weeks.
 
Canadian coal carload originations totaled 8,058, up 16.7% week on week and 41.7% from the year-ago week. It was the first year-on-year increase in 11 weeks, and year-to-date, Canadian carloads totaled 305,319, down 15.7% from the year-ago period.
 
Coal carloads from the four major Class I railroads totaled 67,758, down 18.1% from the year-ago week, while through the year so far carloads totaled more than 2.9 million, down 26.8%.
 
BNSF coal carloads were 29,174, up 2.5% from the previous week and down 20.4% year on year. Coal took up 14.3% of total BNSF traffic, while year-to-date coal carloads were down 22.9% compared with the year-ago period.
 
Carloads totaled 15,265 on Union Pacific, jumping 23.6% week on week. From the year-ago week, carloads dropped 8.4% and, through the year so far, carloads were down 22.9%.
 
Coal also produced 9.4% of total UP traffic in the most recent week.
 
CSX carloads totaled 12,225, down 1.5% from the week before and 17.9% from the year-ago week. Through 47 weeks, coal carloads fell 27.6% year on year, and in the most recent week, coal was 9.6% of total CSX carloads.
 
Norfolk Southern carloads were 11,094, down 7% week on week and 24.2% lower year on year. Since the start of the year, NS coal traffic was down 38.6% from the 2019 period. Coal also produced 7.8% of total weekly NS traffic.