(August 24, 2023) – RailState, the rail industry’s only provider of real-time rail network visibility, independently tracks all freight rail movements across Canada.
RailState has looked in more detail at how CN and CPKC handled the August 18 traffic interruption in the Fraser River Canyon Directional Running Zone caused by the Kookipi Creek Fire.
Trains traveling through the DRZ were delayed a day or more and wildfire activity is contributing to other delays throughout the region.
“This was a short but significant delay and we’re seeing other wildfire-related delays in BC,” said John Schmitter, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at RailState. “With wildfires intensifying, backlogs from the BC ports strike still remaining, and the looming grain harvest, the Canadian rail network is under a lot of pressure. For shippers with some optionality, it’s critical to know what’s going on and identify opportunities.”
Directional Running Zone
Westbound Traffic
Travel Times
Travel through the directional running zone from Heffley (CN) and Monte Creek (CPKC) to Chilliwack typically takes less than a day. The time more than doubled as a result of the shutdown on August 18.
For trains passing through Heffley on August 17 and headed to the Port of Vancouver region, the travel time rose to nearly 2 full days. Trains passing Monte Creek on the 17th saw travel times increase threefold from the expected travel time. While delayed, trains were held in the Kamloops area.
The average westbound travel time through the DRZ is now back to the normal range.
The most notable change in volume is in intermodal. Westbound intermodal train volume increased by more than 1.5 trains per day during August 19-23 compared to the prior week.