Reading & Northern to supply rail cars for Ukraine coal deal

Reading & Northern Railroad will supply coal cars as part of Pennsylvania-based Xcoal Energy and Resources' deal to ship 700,000 tons of coal for energy production in Ukraine.

Half the tonnage will be made up of Pennsylvania anthracite shipped from mines served by Reading & Northern. Reading Anthracite Coal of Pottsville has handled the acquisition of the 350,000 tons of anthracite, according to a Reading & Northern press release.

President Donald Trump's administration announced the Xcoal contract earlier this week. The contract calls for the company to supply coal to Ukraine's state-owned power company for winter heating of homes and businesses.

Reading & Northern will supply all of the coal cars used to handle the anthracite. The railroad will serve at up to six loading points in order to build the more than 100 car unit trains that Norfolk Southern Railway will pick up at Reading, Pennsylvania.

"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-plus unit trains in five months," said Reading & Northern Chief Executive Officer Andrew Muller Jr.