By Alice McFarlane

CN Rail continue strong grain movement

Feb 4, 2021 | 5:09 PM

CN Rail reported it shipped just under three million tonnes of grain and grain products last month setting a new January record.

The Ag Transport Coalition, who monitors grain movement for commodity groups, reported CN Rail has been more consistent in meeting grain car orders than it was before Jan.1.

Over the past two weeks CN Rail posted performance numbers of 79 and 81 per cent. On the other hand, CP Rail has fallen into a cycle of one good week and one bad week.

Milt Poirer with QGI Consulting prepares the weekly report for the Ag Transport Coalition. He said CP Rail has had issues with cars moving to eastern Canada.

“Now that Thunder Bay is effectively closed and traffic is going to shift to a longer haul across country to eastern Canada, it will become an important corridor, more important than it has been so far in the current grain year,” Poirer said.

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With colder temperatures on the way the focus will be on consistency of rail car delivery.

“The big question, of course, is can the railways get to a point where they deliver consistent performance at a high-level week in and week out,” he said. “CN is showing some positive signs in this regard the last few weeks.”

Poirer said CN’s performance has improved over the last five to six weeks and have been steady for the previous two weeks.

“CP not so much,” he said. “So, the question is do they get this figured out as they move forward through February and March.”

Poirier added service to Vancouver has improved but Prince Rupert remains a challenge.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF