(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 7, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels declined slightly but remained above the 6,000 car threshold for the 6th consecutive day.

The net decline seen yesterday reflects a notable decline for CN (-12%) offset in part by higher volumes for CP (+10%).

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts resumed their downward trajectory after increasing over the weekend with counts falling back below 1,600 cars.

Improvement across the board yesterday led by CP which saw idle car counts decline 20% overnight.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads (416) came off their run of three straight days above the 600 car mark with lower unloads at both west coast ports led by a near halving of unloads at Vancouver.

Early in week 32 Prince Rupert is tracking ahead of last week’s pace while Vancouver unloads are down somewhat.

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.