According to the September performance report, UP loaded 1009 coal trains in the SPRB, compared with 949 trains in September 2009.

There were 146 missed loading opportunities during the month, with 58 attributable to the shipper – including a September 8 derailment that blocked the slow of both empty and full SPRB trains for a short period of time.

Slow unloading at utility plants accounted for 50 of the missed trains, and 38 were attributable to mines.

UP said it was able to offset some of the missed loads in September through 75 extra loadings.

In the Colorado/Utah region, the company’s other main area of focus, counts have begun a downward trend.

During the month UP loaded 235 coal trains, compared with 255 in September 2009.

Union Pacific’s operation area encompasses 23 US states in the western two-thirds of the country. The company and Burlington Northern Santa Fe are the two largest western coalfields coal shippers.