US utility executives say railed coal supplies to their power plants have gone smoothly in recent months, but worry that deliveries could slow later this year if tariffs take hold at North American railroads.

Rapidly changing tariff strategies are disrupting railroad customers' efforts to plan shipments and make investments.

Published on 20 March 2025 in Argus Coal Daily. Analysis of drop in export sales of US Coal.

The North American freight rail industry faces uncertainty in 2025 as a potential trade war and possible labor disputes are poised to cut into volume.

US utilities are concerned that they may not have enough railcars to haul coal in the future as multiple power plants are seeking to remain in operation longer than expected.

Operations at Canada's two largest railroads ended Thursday morning at 12:01am ET as a work stoppage began following the failure of labor contract talks.

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is urging federal regulators to help avoid a so-called "boxcar cliff," fearing lower compensation rates are contributing to a shortage of boxcars in the US.

A bridge across a major trading waterway in the US city of Baltimore, Maryland, has completely collapsed after being hit by a container ship early today, Tuesday.

US rail regulators have approved Canadian Pacific's (CP) $31bn purchase of US carrier Kansas City Southern (KCS), creating a North American carrier with a network stretching from Canada to Mexico.

Illinois basin and Appalachian coal prices are likely headed toward a more stable period following last year's spike and recent steep declines.

Rail transportation service is deteriorating quickly, infuriating shippers of crude, grain and metals.

Rail shipments of US commodities are becoming increasingly delayed by domestic and global supply chain disruptions, including intermodal container congestion.

US railroad Kansas City Southern (KCS) is swapping merger partners again, replacing its planned $33.6bn combination with Canadian National (CN) for a $31bn deal with original suitor Canadian Pacific (CP), to create a single railroad stretching from Canada to Mexico.

Canadian railroad Canadian Pacific (CP) has agreed to buy US carrier Kansas City Southern (KCS) for $29bn ($C36bn) in stock and cash to create a new entity with operations running from Canada to Mexico.

Unseasonably high water on the Mississippi river system is delaying some barge deliveries of fertilizer, coal, crude and metals, while sparking concerns about a rerun of 2019 shipping problems.