(Regular 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 new grain network status report has been created to provide stakeholders with comprehensive insight on the performance of the Canadian rail system for the 2020-2021 grain year.  The report provides information and data on the status of the rail network as of midnight the previous day.

The railway performance data reported in these reports reflect the performance of rail shipments specifically for grain shippers participating in the Ag Transport Coalition’s railway performance measurement program – estimated to encompass approximately 90-95% of western Canadian originated grain shipments by rail.

October 4, 2020: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· Average daily loads on wheels last week finished at the levels seen through most of the week, averaging more than 11,800 cars per day, an increase of 5% from the week prior.

· Loads on wheels declined slightly yesterday to 11,825 cars after rising for three straight days to more than 12,000 cars yesterday.  The decline seen yesterday reflects a slight increase on CN offset by lower volumes on CP.  CN volumes have risen steadily over the last 10 days rising from 5,300 cars per day to more than 7,000 cars in each of the last two days.

Cars Not Moving

· The system count of cars not moving increased yesterday reflecting higher counts for CN while CP counts increased only slightly.  Daily counts last week averaged more than 1,600 cars per day – a 21% increase from the prior week.

Port Unloads

· West coast unloads (1,462) increased yesterday posting the highest single day total in four months, reflecting strong unloads at Vancouver offset by lower unloads at Prince Rupert.

All daily network status 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