(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 23, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

Daily average system loads on wheels finished out last week 17% lower than the prior week averaging less than 6,300 cars per day – consistent with the trend seen throughout the week.

The net decline seen last week reflects 16 – 17% week over week declines for each of CN and CP.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts finished out the week averaging less than 2,400 cars per day – a 23% improvement from the prior week and the 3rd straight week of improvement.

Both railways saw some improvement last week although the majority of the improvement was seen on CN which reduced counts 25%.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads averaged 593 cars per day last week – the best week in the last five.  The improvement reflects higher unloads at both Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Thunder Bay unloads fell for the 5th straight week averaging only 50 cars per day.

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.