R&N handling Ukraine-bound coal

Written by Railway Age Staff
coal pic

In a development that harks back to the region’s mining roots, Reading & Northern Railroad said it will operate anthracite unit coal trains as part of a major shipment destined for Ukraine.

Xcoal Energy & Resources arranged to ship 700,000 tons of coal for energy production to Ukraine by the end of this year, with half of that Pennsylvania anthracite from mines served by Reading & Northern. Reading Anthracite Coal of Pottsville, Pa., has handled the acquisition of the 350,000 tons of anthracite.

“The U.S. coal will replace Russian origin coal at existing thermal power plants, [for] energy security and diversification,” said Xcoal President Ernie Thrasher, who traveled to Ukraine for the announcement by the Trump Administration.

coal picThe railroad, also known as the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, owns more than 1,200 freight cars and will be supplying all of the hopper cars used to carry the anthracite. From six different loadouts, R&N will build 100-plus car unit trains to be interchanged with Norfolk Southern at Reading, Pa., for forwarding to CNX Terminal in Baltimore, Md.

“Reading & Northern is delighted to be partnering with Xcoal and Norfolk Southern on this wonderful opportunity,” said Reading & Northern Chief Executive Andrew Muller, Jr. “We have long been known as “The Road of Anthracite” and here is our chance to show the world how good our service is and how good Pennsylvania anthracite is. Our years of investment in coal cars and our branch line rail system pays off with our ability to turn on a dime and handle the movement of 30+ unit trains in five months.”

[Editor’s Note: The former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western coined the slogan, “Road of Anthracite.” The R&N operates primarily on lines once owned by the DL&W’s competitors, but were later combined with successor Erie-Lackawanna under Conrail.]

Reading & Northern Railroad, headquartered in Port Clinton, Pa., serves more than  70 customers in nine eastern Pennsylvania counties.

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