(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.

March 20, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

Despite declining steadily for the last 5 days system loads on wheels finished out last week averaging 6,700 cars per day – 5% higher than the prior week.

The increase last week reflects higher volumes for CP and lower volumes for CN – consistent with the pattern seen throughout the week last week.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts averaged more than 2,400 cars per day last week – above the 2,000 car threshold every day, the highest level in seven weeks and 30% higher than the prior week.

The increase seen last week reflects higher counts for both CN and CP with each averaging more than 1,000 cars per day.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads were largely unchanged from the prior week averaging a little over 430 cars per day reflecting improved unloads at Vancouver and lower unloads at Prince Rupert.

Thunder Bay unloads remained uneven last week falling to half the levels seen the prior 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.