(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.

April 24, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels finished out last week marginally higher than the prior week averaging more than 5,500 cars per day, consistent with the rising trend seen in the latter part of the week.

The increase seen last week reflects improved volumes for both CN and CP in nearly equal measure.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts improved some 20% last week as compared to the prior week averaging slightly more than 1,100 cars per day, the lowest levels seen in more than two months.

The improvement reflects lower average daily counts for both railways although more notably CN.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads at 342 cars per day last week fell short of the 400 car threshold for the third time in the last five weeks driven by lower unloads at Vancouver.

Thunder Bay unloads also declined week over week falling short of 200 cars per day for the first time in four weeks.

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.