(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 6, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels finished out week 31 consistent with the trend seen throughout the week, averaging slightly more than 6,000 cars per day – 9% higher than the prior week.

As was the case throughout the week the improvement last week was led by CP which saw volumes increase 22% while CN volumes nudged up only slightly.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts resumed their improvement last week after having risen the prior week.  Having said that, average daily counts at move than 1,600 cars per day were the second highest in the last four weeks.

As we saw through much of the week, the improvement was led by CP while CN counts increased slightly from the prior week.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads averaged more than 500 cars per day (564) last week for the 4th time in the last seven weeks with a 20% improvement from the prior week.

Both ports reported improved performance led by Vancouver.

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.