(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 6, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels increased again yesterday rising above the 8,000 car threshold for the first time in 11 days.

Yesterday’s increase once again reflects notably higher volumes for CN while CP volumes declined.  CN now tracking at last week’s pace while CP continues to lag slightly.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts increased yesterday interrupting what was a consistent downward trajectory over the last week.

System counts returned above the 3,400 car mark driven by higher counts on CP while CN counts were effectively unchanged.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads (121) fell off significantly yesterday reflecting no unloads at Prince Rupert and significantly lower unloads at Vancouver – likely impacted by severe weather in Vancouver.

Thunder Bay unloads (114) also dipped from the prior day with all three ports lagging last week’s unloads performance by 20-50%.

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.