(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.

May 23, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels declined last week for the 4th consecutive week, falling to less than 3,600 cars per day on average reflecting lower volumes for CN and no change for CP.

Loads on wheels declined yesterday for the 3rd straight day driven by a reduction on CN which now sees loads on wheels below 1,300 cars.

Cars Not Moving

After declining steadily for five straight weeks, system idle car counts rose slightly last week averaging nearly 700 cars per day driven by higher counts for CP.

After rising briefly over the weekend, counts declined yesterday returning below 600 cars – essentially where we were at this time last week.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads declined for the third straight week last week averaging only 306 cars per day – the lowest level in the last eight weeks.

Thunder Bay unloads improved last week averaging 220 cars per day – the best week in the last six.

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.