RailState, the rail industry’s only provider of real-time rail network visibility, independently tracks all freight rail movements across Canada in real-time.
This report covers freight movements into the major Canadian ports. It excludes intermodal traffic, which is covered in a separate Intermodal Report.
Western Ports
Port of Vancouver
Freight volume westbound to the Port of Vancouver fell in May, dropping 6.1% compared to April. The biggest % changes came from Automotive trains (down 36.4% from the previous month), Grain trains (down 28.3%), and Manifest trains (up 22%).
Other unit trains were mostly down.
- Coal Unit: +7.2%
- Tank Car Unit trains: -15.0%
- Potash Unit: -6.3%
- Sulphur Unit: -12.5%
CPKC’s share of total carload volume into the port was 7 points higher than CN’s.
Prince Rupert
Freight volume to the Port of Prince Rupert grew 6.9% in April.
- Coal Unit: -7.1%
- Grain trains: +20.6%
- Manifest: +5.0%
- Tank Car Unit trains: +11.8%
Prince Rupert also saw significant increases in Intermodal volume in May.
Eastern Ports
Halifax
Train volume to Halifax increased 14.8% in May. All train types saw moderate increases in volume: Manifest up 20%, Automotive up 14.8%, and Grain trains up 10.5%.
Port of Sydney
Train volume to the Port of Sydney increased by 3 trains in May (+10%).
Thunder Bay
Train volume to Thunder Bay decreased 16.9% in May, driven by a 43.8% decrease in Automotive volume and a 37.5% decrease in Coal unit trains. Movements of covered hoppers to Thunder Bay have been in April and May, demonstrating higher volumes of grain and fertilizer products moving through the port. Covered hopper volumes were consistent over the past two months and up 76% compared to March.
CPKC moves the lion’s share of carloads into the port.
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