The number of hoppers cars being spotted at western Canadian grain elevators continues to improve at Canadian National Railway, while weekly hopper car deliveries at Canadian Pacific Railway continue to falter, according to figures supplied by the Ag Transport Coalition (ATC). ATC numbers show that CN’s numbers have been improving consistently since the arrival of […] Read more
Tag Archives grain transportation
Ordered ratification vote averts CP Rail strike
Unions say they are advising their members to reject company offers and that a strike will occur once that happens
A strike has been averted, at least temporarily, at Canadian Pacific Railway. However, union leaders at Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), say it’s only a matter of time before their members walk off the job at CP. On April 20, Canadian Labour Minister Patty Hajdu determined that […] Read more
Farm groups repeat demand for Bill C-49 passage
Canadian farmers have once again urged passage of Bill C-49, as amended, by the House of Commons as soon as possible. In an open letter to members of Parliament April 26, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and its prairie members said farmers are struggling with cash flow because not enough grain has moved. “Farm groups […] Read more
Grain freight costs to rise 2.8 percent in 2018-19, says CTA
Canada’s major railway companies will be able to generate greater per-tonne revenues for moving regulated western Canadian grain in 2018-19 following an April 25 ruling by the Canadian Transportation Agency. The CTA announced Wednesday that the Volume Related Composite Price Index (VRCPI) will increase 2.8 percent in the 2018-19 crop year. The VRCPI is a […] Read more
Rail strike averted, for now
A strike has been averted, at least temporarily, at Canadian Pacific Railway. However, union leaders at Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), say it’s only a matter of time until their members walk off the job at CP. On April 20, Canadian Labour Minister Patty Hajdu determined that […] Read more
Farm groups urge back-to-work legislation at CP
Prairie farm groups that are still fuming over what they call inadequate rail service this winter are now calling on Ottawa to intervene in a simmering labour dispute at Canadian Pacific Railway, the country’s second largest railway company. Close to 3,500 train engineers, conductors and electrical workers represented by Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and […] Read more
Rail backlog strands more grain on Prairies
The grain monitor says at least two million more tonnes of grain than usual are still stored on prairie farms because of the rail backlog. Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., said the exact number is hard to pin down. “We’re between two and 2.5 million tonnes more sitting on farms than what we would […] Read more
Strike date nears at CP
Canadian Pacific Railway said last week a “significant gap” remains between the company and railway employees represented by a pair of labour unions: the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). About 3,000 TCRC engineers and train conductors as well as 360 IBEW signal maintainers could go on strike […] Read more
Transport bill passage down to wire
Farm organizations lauded the passing of an amended transportation reform bill, Bill C-49, in the Senate last week, but the changes still have to clear the Liberal majority in the House of Commons. Parliament is on a break until April 16 and it’s unknown when MPs will deal with the legislation. Farmers want it passed, […] Read more
Canadian railways in a catch-22 over crude shipment
March 27 (Reuters) – Canadian railway operators see a lucrative opportunity to transport more crude oil to the United States as a rise in output force producers to find new routes to its southern neighbor. However, their need for long-term contracts and the pressure to move a surplus of grains in the country is making […] Read more
