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Daily Grain Network Status – October 31, 2021 NOV 1 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.

October 31, 2021: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

• System loads on wheels saw an uninterrupted downward trajectory last week finishing out the week averaging 8,923 cars per day – 13% lower than the prior week.

• The decline was consistent for each of CN and CP with each seeing significant week over week declines consistent with projected lower shipper demand last week.

Cars Not Moving

• System idle car counts saw significant week over week improvement last week averaging less than 2,000 cars per day – a nearly 30% improvement from the prior week.

• The improvement is reflected in lower counts for each of CN and CP although CN was the principal driver with idle car counts declining some 45% from the prior week.

Port Unloads

• West coast unloads bounced back somewhat last week averaging nearly 900 cars per day reflecting improved unloads at both west coast ports.

• Thunder Bay, despite having 4 days north of 300 unloads, saw unloads decline week over week averaging less than 250 cars per day last 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.