According to the company’s most recent monthly performance report, 925 coal trains were loaded in the South Powder River Basin last month, versus 943 trains loaded last February.

There were 147 missed loading opportunities in the SPRB during that time, 61 of which were attributable to UP issues. Of the remainder, 47 were due to slow utility plant unloads and 39 were attributable to mines.

The company noted that 28 of the missed loading opportunities were due to severe weather conditions and snow that affected the Midwest region in early February. Another 17 were lost after a Missouri coal train derailment.

UP did pick up 64 extra loadings, which helped to offset the shortage.

In the Colorado/Utah region, the company’s other primary area of service, February coal train loadings totaled 203, a 15% drop from 239 loadings in February last year.

In related news, an UP train derailed in Colorado late last week, though the company told media outlets that no injuries were reported and the trains were fortunately empty at the time.

According to KKCO, the incident in Hotchkiss involved a train that was en route from North Platte, Nebraska, to a group of coal mines near Somerset, Colorado. The train’s engine and five empty cars slid off the track, halting traffic in the area for more than four hours.

An investigation into the cause is ongoing.

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.