(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.

February 18, 2021: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· Loads on wheels declined slightly yesterday on the heels of a slow but steady upward trajectory over the prior seven days.

· Yesterday’s increase reflects a slight increase on CN offset by lower volumes on CP.  In the back half of week 29, system volumes continue to outpace last week by 11% at 11,400 cars per day.

Cars Not Moving

· The recent improvement seen in reducing idle car counts took a slight pause yesterday with system counts rising slightly and returning near the 4,000 car mark.

Port Unloads

· West coast unloads (1,130) saw their best day in the last 12 rising above the 1,000 car mark for only the second time during the 12 day stretch.

· Unloads improved at both west coast ports.  While Prince Rupert fell short of their 200 car benchmark, Vancouver reported their best unloads in 10 days.

For more information, go to www.agtransportcoalition.com* 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