According to its newest performance report, UP loaded 1022 coal trains last month, down from 1056 trains loaded in January 2011.

The figures are versus December, when the company loaded 1085 coal trains, a rise from 984 trains it loaded in December 2010.

Whole year 2011, the company recorded 12,254 loadings, a 4.5% increase over its totals the year prior

While SPRB loadings dropped, shipments from UP’s other main service area, the Colorado/Utah region, was up just slightly. The railroad loaded 232 coal trains versus 230 trains in January 2011.

UP’s operation area encompasses 23 states in the western two-thirds of the US.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe and UP are the two largest shippers for the western coalfields.