(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 27, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels rallied somewhat at the tail end of last week finishing out week 34 averaging nearly 6,600 cars per day, only marginally lower than the prior week.

The improvement at the end of the week was led by CN which finished out the week 17% higher than the prior week while CP volumes declined 8% week over week.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts improved marginally from the prior week averaging 2,400 cars per day – the second highest level in 8 weeks exceeded only by the prior week.

CN saw counts decline some 20% week over week while CP counts increased 20% with both railways averaging more than 1,000 cars per day.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads averaged 283 cars per day last week – the lowest level in 8 weeks – reflecting significantly lower unloads at Vancouver offset by improved unloads at Prince Rupert.

Thunder Bay unloads at 55 cars per day doubled from the prior week but remained low given the increased demand in the corridor.

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.