(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.

October 29, 2023: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

Consistent with the pattern seen throughout the week, system loads on wheels dipped marginally last week averaging a little over 9,200 cars per day – down 2% from the prior week.
A tale of two railways last week with CP seeing higher volumes (+10%) while CN saw a notable dip from the prior week (-10%).

Cars Not Moving

The number of cars not moving 48+ hours on a daily basis rose 25% week over week averaging more than 1,200 cars per day on a system basis last week.

Both railways seeing higher counts last week in nearly equal measure with each averaging more than 500 cars per day.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads holding steady last week averaging just north of 1,000 cars per day consistent with levels seen over the prior three weeks.
Thunder Bay unloads also holding at the prior week’s levels averaging 208 cars per day last week.

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.