(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 28, 2021: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels finished week 17 much where it was trending through much of the week averaging just under 8,400 cars per day – marginally higher than the prior week.

Loads on wheels have now risen for two straight days rising above 8,600 cars yesterday with the increase over the last two days fuelled by higher volumes for CN.

Cars Not Moving

Despite some headway in the back half of last week, system idle car counts saw their worst week since the wildfire disruptions last summer averaging more than 4,700 cars per day.

Nominal progress was made through the weekend although idle car counts remain above 4,000 cars to begin week 18

Port Unloads

West coast unloads declined precipitously for the second straight week averaging less than 100 cars per day, consistent with the inability to get cars to Vancouver.

Thunder Bay finished out last week at lower levels ultimately averaging less than 270 cars per day – a 12% drop from the prior week.

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.