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Daily Grain Network Status – January 31, 2023 FEB 2 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 31, 2023: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

A slight increase in system loads on wheels yesterday after three straight days of decline that pushed system volumes below 8,200 cars – the lowest one day total in 4+ months.

CP driving the increase yesterday with little change for CN.  Both railways continue to see low loads on wheels with CN remaining below 4,000 cars on line for the second straight day.

Cars Not Moving

Significant improvement in system idle car counts yesterday with counts declining 40% (-873 cars) and falling to roughly 1,300 cars from the peak of more than 2,200 cars seen over the last two days.

Both railways making notable gains yesterday although CP counts remain at nearly twice the levels currently seen on CN.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads (1,015) still north of 1,000 cars yesterday although remaining arguably below standard with lower unloads at Vancouver and higher unloads at Prince Rupert.

Thunder Bay unloads (38) continue to trickle in on a daily basis.

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.