(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.

November 16, 2020: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· Loads on wheels increased 12% (1,330 cars) yesterday returning above the 12,000 car threshold for the first time in nine days.  The increase seen yesterday reflects notably higher volumes for both CN and CP.

· This one day spike likely reflects the timing of empty car supply and shipper loading as opposed to a net increase in demand.  Three days in this week, traffic levels are tracking at last weeks levels.

Cars Not Moving

· The system count of loads not moving declined 21% yesterday reversing three consecutive days of rising counts.  Yesterday’s decline reflects principally an improvement on CN.

Port Unloads

· West coast unloads (1,097) improved slightly from the prior day reflecting improved unloads at Vancouver offset by poorer unloads at Prince Rupert.  Thunder Bay unloads remain robust at 442 yesterday.

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