Railworks America

"The core markets for Colombian coal are along the Atlantic seaboard, the Gulf Coast and Alabama.

Low prices for international shipping have given Colombian coal an edge over higher-priced coal from Appalachian mines, said Steve Piper, an analyst at research firm SNL Energy, which issued a report last month about the trend. The Baltic Dry Index, which measures the cost of shipping bulk commodities globally, has fallen to one-tenth of its level five years ago. U.S. rail rates have mostly held firm over the same period.

The problem with shipping U.S. coal by rail is supply. U.S. demand for rail transport to ship crude oil, grain and other products has soared, limiting the number of railcars available to ship coal to power plants. Railroad companies are now adding locomotives and cars and making other improvements to allow more coal and other products to be shipped.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based CSX Corp. CSX +0.81% , one of the country's biggest rail operators, plans to add 100 locomotives to its fleet of 3,700, and it expects to ship a lot more coal later this year to meet utility demand, a company spokeswoman said.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas, said it plans to buy 500 locomotives, 5,000 new railcars and hire 5,000 new operations employees to beef up service."
WSJ today

buzz456 wrote:Jacksonville, Fla.-based CSX Corp. CSX +0.81% , one of the country's biggest rail operators, plans to add 100 locomotives to its fleet of 3,700, and it expects to ship a lot more coal later this year to meet utility demand, a company spokeswoman said.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas, said it plans to buy 500 locomotives, 5,000 new railcars and hire 5,000 new operations employees to beef up service."
WSJ today

Because of the increase in Bakkin oil trains, I've also heard NS plans on hiring conductors. I know last month we moved 100 oil trains through Conway. I also heard that the Phillips contract will add another 25 trains to that list. So far things are looking very good for the railroad industry.

buzz456 wrote:"The core markets for Colombian COKE are along the Atlantic seaboard, the Gulf Coast and Alabama.

Good Morning:

I think there was a misspelling in the first sentence.

I just cut and pasted from the WSJ.

charliechan wrote:

buzz456 wrote:"The core markets for Colombian COKE are along the Atlantic seaboard, the Gulf Coast and Alabama.

Good Morning:

I think there was a misspelling in the first sentence.

I can see the Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf, but Alabama?

Isn't Alabama part of the gulf coast? Last time I checked there was this port called Mobile?

buzz456 wrote:I just cut and pasted from the WSJ.

Sorry, it was tongue in cheek about Columbia's other export.