(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.

August 12, 2020: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· System traffic volumes declined last week to their lowest level in nine weeks – this is consistent with declining shipper demand in recent weeks as the grain year turns over.

· System volumes increased notably yesterday reflecting higher volumes for both railways but most notably CN.  The spike in CN volumes is consistent with a pattern seen over the past few weeks whereby prior weeks orders are fulfilled early in the week resulting in a temporary one day surge.

· Shipper demand for railcar capacity has declined 20% in week 2 (this week) with total shipper orders for CN and CP combined falling below 6,600 cars – the lowest level seen since the beginning of the last crop year (August 2019).

Loads Not Moving

· The count of idle cars improved yesterday for the third straight day reflecting higher counts on CN and lower counts on CP.

Port Performance

· West coast port unloads (664) saw the lowest single day total since early April reflecting poor unload performance at both west coast ports.

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

· Vessel counts were unchanged overnight reflecting a decline at Vancouver (-1) and an increase at Prince Rupert (+1) – now at 29.

· Two vessels are now scheduled to arrive at Prince Rupert and 15 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.