(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.

January 16, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

After declining through much of last week, system loads on wheels saw a small surge to finish the week leaving average daily loads on wheels unchanged from the prior week at 7,500 cars per day.

As was the case through much of last week, CN volumes finished out the week some 12% higher than the prior week while CP volumes declined by 15% from the prior week.

Cars Not Moving

Average daily system idle car counts declined for the 3rd straight week but still averaged more than 3,000 cars per day last week.

The system improvement saw both CN and CP improve counts last week in nearly equal measure lowering their respective counts by about 300 cars per day each.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads averaged 442 cars per day last week – the highest level in four weeks – reflecting slight improvements at both west coast ports.

Thunder Bay unloads continued their steady decline consistent with the seasonal closure of the Seaway.

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.