(Daily updates will be available on the Alberta Pulse Growers website.)

Pulse Canada and the CSCA are partners of the Ag Transport Coalition (ATC)*, which tracks performance of the Canadian railway network for the movement of grain.

A daily report has been created to provide stakeholders with insight on the performance of the Canadian rail system as it attempts to remain resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues recovering from a series of physical network disruptions in the months of January and February 2020.

July 13, 2020: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· System traffic volumes declined last week falling some 7% lower than traffic levels seen over the prior four weeks, averaging just above 11,100 cars per day.

· Volumes declined yesterday reflecting lower volumes for both railways.

· Based on confirmed shipper orders for week 50 (this week), it is expected that traffic volumes will remain strong with more than 9,000 confirmed orders for ATC shippers.

Loads Not Moving

· Counts increased substantially yesterday (+1,000 cars) reflecting higher counts for both CN and CP with CN accounting for 60% of the increase.

· This increase comes on the heels of six consecutive days of declining numbers and reflects increased staging of traffic in the Vancouver and Prince Rupert corridors following a surge in new traffic coming on line late last week.

Port Performance

· West coast port unloads (941) returned above the 1,000 car threshold for the 4th time in the last six days reflecting below average unloads at both Vancouver and Prince Rupert which may reflect to some extent reduced Sunday operations at the Ports.

· West coast vessel counts continue to hover around 30-35 vessels per day, a consistent range over the last few months.

· Vessel counts increased overnight, reflecting higher counts at Prince Rupert (+1) and no change at Vancouver – now at 37.

· Two vessels are now scheduled to arrive at Prince Rupert and 11 vessels currently scheduled for arrival at Vancouver over the next two weeks.

All daily resiliency reports are available on the Pulse Canada website.

*The Ag Transportation Coalition is comprised of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Pulse Canada, Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA), Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC) and the Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA).

For more information, go to www.agtransportcoalition.com.