(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 18, 2021: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

• System loads on wheels declined yesterday for the first time in 7 days but remain above 10,400 cars.

• The decline yesterday reflects lower volumes for each of CN and CP – with reductions for both focused in the Vancouver corridor.

Cars Not Moving

• System idle car counts increased notably again yesterday with CP counts jumping more than 50% while CN counts declined.  System counts now near 4,000 cars.

• We now believe the build up in cars on line and idle car counts, most notably to Vancouver, is a fallout from extensive rain in Vancouver impacting ship loading.

Port Unloads

• West coast unloads (1,084) bounced back yesterday with improved unloads at both west coast ports.

• Thunder Bay (341) saw another good day and early in week 12 are outpacing last week by nearly 40%.

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.