(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 2, 2020: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· Traffic levels last week remained consistent with the prior week averaging just under 12,000 cars per day.

· Volumes declined notably yesterday on the heels of an equally sizable increase the prior day.  The overall change in system volumes in this two day period – more than 1,000 cars each day – is more a reflection of timing than an overall increase in traffic levels.  Through four days this week system volumes are up only approximately 2% as compared to last week.

Loads Not Moving

· On a daily basis loads sitting idle rose slightly last week averaging more than 2,800 cars per day for CN and CP combined.

· Counts deteriorated slightly overnight reflecting higher counts on both railways.

· While fluctuating on a daily basis and moving back and forth between CN and CP the system count of idle cars has remained very consistent over the last three weeks ranging between 2,500 – 2,800 cars per day.

Port Performance

· West coast port unloads (1,418) saw the highest single day total of the current grain year spurred by a similar achievement at the Port of Vancouver which saw unloads rise above 1,200 cars yesterday.  Rupert unloads remain below average.

· 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 an increase at Vancouver (+2) and no change at Prince Rupert – now at 37.

· Three vessels are now scheduled to arrive at Prince Rupert and 13 vessels currently scheduled for arrival at Vancouver over the next ten days.

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.