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Daily Grain Network Status – November 21, 2021 NOV 22 2021 | Producers | Blog Post

(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 21, 2021: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

Average daily loads on wheels increased 3% last week averaging 8,200+ cars per day likely reflecting a slowing of system throughput as opposed to higher demand.

We begin week 17 with a healthy bump up in loads on wheels although centered on Thunder Bay (+600) for both railways with loads on wheels to Vancouver unchanged.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts increased significantly last week averaging 3,500+ cars per day reflecting a significant jump in the Vancouver corridor as anticipated.

System counts have now surpassed 5,600 cars with nearly 5,000 of those cars dwelling in the Vancouver corridor.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads fell sharply last week averaging less than 300 cars per day with unloads down for both Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Thunder Bay unloads saw a strong week last week with 300+ unloads per day on average – above the 300 car threshold for 4th time in the last seven weeks.

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.