(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.

December 17, 2020: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· Loads on wheels declined for the fourth consecutive day, albeit only modestly, remaining slightly above 12,200 cars.  Yesterday’s decline reflects a continued downward trajectory in CN volumes over the last week, now having declined from more than 8,100 cars on line five days ago to their current level of about 7,100 cars.  CP meanwhile has seen its volumes fluctuate but largely remain stable over this time period.  Volumes now tracking 6% lower than last week.

Cars Not Moving

· The system count of loads not moving declined for the third straight day once again driven by improvement on CN with a slight improvement on CP.  System counts fell below 3,000 cars for the first time in ten days.

Port Unloads

· West coast unloads (1,014) improved yesterday reflecting improved unloads at both west coast ports.  Thunder Bay unloads declined notably to less than 200 cars.

* 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).All daily network status reports are available on the Pulse Canada website

For more information, go to www.agtransportcoalition.com