Rail Capacity Report – 12/6-12/12/2022
We’ve been reporting on the Grain movement in Canada to the Port of Vancouver for the last twelve weeks. For most of this period, the railways have appeared to be doing well with westbound movements toward Vancouver. The past week (ending 12/12/2022) was a continuation of that trend. Total train volumes increased from 26.0 trains/day during the week ending 12/5/22 to 27.1 trains/day for the week ending 12/12/22. Throughout the week ending 12/12, the total train volumes were above the 25.7 trains/day required to move the current grain harvest and the typical volume of other commodities.
Observations for Week 12/6-12/12/2022
- The 7-day moving average number of trains moving westbound past Chilliwack was 27.1 trains/day, above the average of 25.7 trains/day that is required to move a typical grain harvest.
- The moving average number of trains/day was above 25.7 trains/day for all 7 days during this past week.
- During the week ended 12/12/2022, the 7 day moving average for total trains increased by 1.1 trains/day from the previous week, from 26.0 to 27.1 trains/day.
We estimate that about 5 grain trains/day are required to move the expected grain harvest.
For the past week, the railways moved 7.7 grain trains/day, below the high of 9.4 grain trains/day achieved in October, but well above the required average.
However, during the week ending 12/12/22, three of the seven categories of rail traffic we track were below their long-term average levels. Intermodal (6.1 trains/day), coal (4.6 trains/day), and potash (1.1 trains/day) were all below their long-term average levels for the fifth week in a row (although coal traffic did increase by 1.3 trains/day during the week ending 12/12/22.) Manifest train traffic also increased significantly during the week ended 12/12/22, rising from 3.0 trains/day as of 12/5/22 to 4.0 trains/day as of 12/12. Petroleum traffic increased by 0.6 trains/day, to 2.6 trains/day. Other traffic also rose slightly, to 1.0 trains/day.
We will continue to monitor the corridor to Vancouver during the grain season and provide updates on trends we’re seeing.
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