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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Analysis of brokerage feasibility for unit coal train shipments to the Midwest. [Unit train shipment and local distribution]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5699138

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of aggregating industry and utility demand for coal and serving the demand through a local brokerage operation to reduce transportation cost. This cost saving is associated with the economy of scale of unit train shipments. The delivered price of western coal is calculated for local users in a given midwest subregion based on present utility and industrial coal demand. The broker operation would consist of unit train hauls from western mines, a receiving and storage terminal, local truck or rail transportation from the terminal to each user, and possible transshipment to distant waterfront users. The research focuses on the Green Bay, Wisconsin area. Applicability of this brokerage concept to other areas receiving western coal shipments is also discussed.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5699138
Report Number(s):
CONF-800128-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English