Since prior to its start-up, RLBA has provided numerous consulting services to IPA related to coal movement in unit trains to IPA’s power plant near Lynndyl, UT, one of the largest coal-fired generating stations in the United States. The facility burns about six million tons of coal annually, serving customers in California and Utah. RLBA has studied the: 1)physical and institutional constraints to unit train operations on the involved lines; 2)design of such unit train operations; 3)equipment selection and development of car specifications; 4)fleet management and maintenance requirements; 5)location and arrangement of a car maintenance shop and 6)economics of alternative modes while assisting in rate contract, service negotiation and spur construction negotiations with the railroads and monitoring contract performance.