Railway carloadings, July 2017
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Released: 2017-09-27
30.0 million tonnes
July 2017
6.9% 
(12-month change)
The volume of rail freight carried in Canada totalled 30.0 million tonnes in July, up 6.9% from the same month last year.
Chart 1
Railway carloadings, total tonnage shipped
Freight originating in Canada increased 3.8% from the same month last year to 26.5 million tonnes. Non-intermodal freight increased 3.5% to 282,000 carloads in July. The amount of freight loaded into these cars totalled 23.5 million tonnes, up 3.3% from the same month last year.
Tonnages of fuel oils and crude petroleum (+40.5%), wheat (+10.0%), iron ores and concentrates (+3.1%), coal (+4.7%) and potash (+7.7%) were up in July compared with July 2016.
Conversely, tonnages of canola seeds (-10.6%), other oil seeds and nuts and other agricultural products (-44.7%), lumber (-6.2%), sulphur (-9.9%) and wood chips (-22.2%) shipped by rail declined in July on a year-over-year basis.
Intermodal freight loadings rose 8.2% to 206,000 units from July 2016 to July 2017. The gain stemmed from an 8.4% increase in containers-on-flat-cars and a 2.4% decline in trailers-on-flat-cars. In terms of weight, intermodal traffic increased 8.1% to 3.0 million tonnes.
Freight traffic received from the United States rose 39.1% to 3.4 million tonnes, as a result of a 45.0% increase in non-intermodal freight and a 16.2% decline in intermodal freight from the United States.
Chart 2
Railway carloadings, top commodities shipped
In celebration of the country's 150th birthday, Statistics Canada is presenting snapshots from our rich statistical history.
Since the railway has been an integral part of Canadian history since Confederation, it is no surprise that railway statistics were among the earliest releases from the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. In the 1930s, railway carload statistics were released weekly, albeit in less detail and with frequent revisions.
These weekly statistics from 85 years ago show that 154,865 rail cars were shipped in the period from July 31 to August 27, 1932: an average of 5,531 cars a day. In July 2017, 487,407 rail cars were shipped for an average of 15,723 cars a day. By this measure, the number of rail cars moved has nearly tripled over 85 years. Substantial technological innovations during this period allowed for a much larger volume of commodities carried by modern rail cars. Furthermore, expansion of the rail network means that these rail cars travel further as well as faster.
Interestingly, even in 1932 the statistician noted that, "As stated in previous reports, the effect on car loadings by diversions to motor trucks, especially for merchandise can not [sic] be measured with the data available, but it is increasing."
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.
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).
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