(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 3, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

Average daily system loads on wheels fell to their lowest level in two months last week averaging less than 7,400 cars per day with volumes declining for CN and CP.

Early in week 23, loads on wheels continue to trend downward at less than 7,200 cars yesterday reflecting further declines for each of CN and CP.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts spiked significantly last week averaging more than 4,600 cars per day likely primarily reflecting a system slowdown over the holidays.

While having improved now for the last two days, counts remain high at more than 3,600 cars yesterday heavily concentrated in the west coast corridors.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads at 374 cars per day last week were marginally higher than the prior week.

Thunder Bay unloads at 140 cars per day last week declined for the second straight 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.