Daily Grain Network Status – January 15, 2023 JAN 16 2023 | Producers | Blog Post

(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.

January 15, 2023: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

System loads on wheels finished out week 24 consistent with the downward trend we saw throughout the week last week averaging 9,154 cars per day – 10% lower than the prior week and the lowest in the last 8 weeks.

As was the case all week the downside was led by CP which saw daily loads on wheels fall 17% from the prior week while CN volumes held steady.

Cars Not Moving

A second consecutive week of notable improvement in system idle car counts last week with daily average counts falling to less than 1,300 cars – 40% lower than the prior week.

CN and CP each contributing to the week over week improvement.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads averaged more than 1,100 cars per day last week, the best week in the last four with unloads improving at both west coast ports.

Thunder Bay unloads, consistent with the closure of the Seaway, declined materially at only 10 cars per day.

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.