(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.

April 4, 2021: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

· Loads on wheels finished out last week some 4% higher than the prior week averaging more than 11,500 cars per day reflecting higher volumes on CP.

Loads on wheels increased yesterday reflecting principally higher volumes on CP with slightly higher volumes for CN.  System volumes being the week tracking 4% ahead of last week.

Cars Not Moving

· Idle car counts took a step back last week averaging more than 1,900 cars per day – 30% higher than the prior week and the highest level in the last four weeks.

· After falling below 1,000 cars on a system basis 11 days ago – the only time in 3+ months – counts have steadily risen for both railways reaching more than 2,500 cars yesterday.

Port Unloads

· West coast unloads (184) were well below average yesterday likely reflecting reduced terminal operations on the west coast due to Easter Sunday.

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.