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Transportation
Railroads comprise
the bulk of the domestic coal distribution system. Together with
barges, railroads handle more than three-quarters of all coal shipments.
From 1980 through 2002, Class I freight railroads alone have invested
more than $300 billion to create a national system that is the envy
of the world. Technology's impact on modern rail transportation
is helping coal maintain its edge as a dependable, affordable energy
resource.
- Railroads
move more coal than any other commodity. In 2002, coal shipments
account for 21 percent of total freight revenue and 44 percent
of total freight tonnage transported by Class I railroads.
| Source:
Association of American Railroads Freight Commodity Statistics |
- Over time,
higher capacity rail cars and more powerful locomotives have
increased railroads' coal-carrying efficiency. In 2002, the
average coal car carried 111 tons, up 10 percent from the 101
tons in 1993 and approximately double the capacity of coal cars
in the 1930s.
| Source:
AAR Freight Commodity Statistics database |
- So-called
"unit" trains of 50 or more carloads account for about
85% of railroad coal shipments. Generally, a unit train carries
coal from a loading facility straight through to a customer
without interruption. Unit trains often operate on a pre-determined
schedule, use dedicated equipment, generally follow direct shipping
routes, are highly productive, and have lower transportation
costs per unit of coal shipped than non-unit train shipments.
| Source:
Surface Transportation Board Carload Waybill Sample |
- The average
haul for coal has risen steadily in recent years, from 558 miles
in 1992 to 696 miles in 2001. During this same period, coal
rail ton-miles grew from 344 billion to 607 billion.
| Source:
STB Carload Waybill Sample |
- Coal is
by far the most important single commodity carried by rail.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk
Southern are the top four railroads measured by tons of coal
originated. In 2002, coal accounted for 52.7% of all tonnage
originated for BNSF, 45.9 percent for NS, 41.5 percent for CSX
and 44.2 percent for UP.
| Source:
AAR Freight Commodity Statistics database |
- Coal is
also an important commodity for many regional and short line
railroads. In 2000, coal was one of the top three commodities
for 58 of the 563 non-Class I railroads.
| Source:
AAR Profiles of United States Railroads |
- In 2001,
railroads delivered 68.5 percent of coal shipments to their
final electric utility destinations, followed by water (13.1
percent), conveyor belts, slurry pipeline, and tramways (9.3
percent); and truck (9.2 percent).
| Source:
Energy Information Administration |
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