Washington (Platts)--11May2007

Norfolk Southern has begun rerouting trains away from parts of Georgia and
Florida that are affected by forest fires. Coal and other shipments destined
for the Southeast could be delayed by up to 24 hours, the railroad said in a
May 10 update. 

NS said that forest fires in south Georgia and northern Florida continue to
pose hurdles for railroad operations, especially on traffic moving between
Valdosta, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida, the line used to deliver coal to
Southeast utilities. 

The federal Forest Service placed temporary holds on all traffic that would
pass through Eddy, Florida, in the past 24 hours, as fire and smoke approached
NS' rail lines. The railroad told shippers to expect delays on traffic moving
to the Southeast until the fires are brought under control. 

"Detour routes are being utilized to route traffic around the affected area as
much as conditions and resources permit," the railroad told shippers. 

CSX, another major railroad operating in the Southeast, is not experiencing
any operating issues and traffic is running as normal, spokeswoman Meg Sacks
told Platts May 10. 

NS is continuing to experience flooding caused by the recent heavy rainfall in
the vicinity of Hardin and Carrollton, Missouri. A breech in a levee resulted
in the flooding of rail lines, according to the railroad. "The flooding is not
expected to crest until sometime late Friday night or Saturday morning," NS
said. 

Traffic moving between Kansas City and Moberly, Missouri, could be delayed by
up to 24 hours, and the railroad is now operating trains over alternate
routes. 

Union Pacific and BNSF Railway are also working to bring service to normal
levels following the recent heavy rainfall in several midwestern states. 

BNSF spokesman Pat Hiatte said on May 10 that weather issues, particularly in
the Powder River Basin, have resulted in more than 80 lost train loadings so
far this month. 

"Major BNSF coal routes have not been affected by flooding, although a few --
less than 10 -- coal trains have been rerouted as a precautionary measure," he
said. 

UP spokesman James Barnes did not return calls at press time.

-- Marcin Skomial, marcin_skomial@platts.com