Railway carloadings, February 2016
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
Released: 2016-04-27
26.8 million tonnes
February 2016
4.5% 
(12-month change)
The volume of rail freight carried in Canada totalled 26.8 million tonnes in February, an increase of 4.5% from the same month last year.
Freight originating in Canada increased 7.0% to 24.4 million tonnes. These shipments are composed of both non-intermodal and intermodal freight.
Non-intermodal freight rose 8.9% to 270,000 carloads in February. The amount of freight loaded into these cars totalled 21.8 million tonnes, up 7.1% from the same month last year. The rise reflected an increase in freight loadings of iron ores and concentrates (up 0.5 million tonnes), canola (up 0.4 million tonnes), other oil seeds and nuts and other agricultural products (up 0.3 million tonnes), and lumber (up 0.2 million tonnes).
Chart 1
Railway carloadings, top commodities shipped
For the third consecutive month, the tonnage of coal, potash, and fuel oils and crude petroleum shipped by rail posted a year-over-year decline in February.
Intermodal freight loadings rose 7.8% to 173,000 units in February. In terms of weight, intermodal traffic grew 5.5% to 2.6 million tonnes as a result of an increase in containerized cargo shipments.
Freight traffic received from the United States fell 15.1% to 2.5 million tonnes as a result of a decrease in both non-intermodal and intermodal shipments.
Chart 2
Railway carloadings, total tonnage shipped
From February 2011 to February 2016, the total volume of rail freight carried in Canada increased 19.2%.
Note to readers
The Monthly Railway Carloadings Survey collects data, including the number of rail cars, tonnage, units, and 20-feet equivalent units, from railways operating in Canada that provide for-hire freight service.
Non-intermodal freight is cargo moved via box cars or loaded in bulk. Intermodal freight is cargo moved via containers and trailers on flat cars.
Data are available for Canada, the Eastern Division and the Western Division. For statistical purposes, cargo loadings from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the Pacific Coast are classified to the Western Division, while loadings from Armstrong, Ontario, to the Atlantic Coast are classified to the Eastern Division.
The data in this release are not seasonally adjusted.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
- Date modified: