Canadian railways carried 29.0 million tonnes of freight in November, down 10.4% compared with November 2020. This was the third consecutive month of year-over-year decline and the largest such drop in tonnage since August 2020, when rail traffic fell to an 11-year low in the aftermath of the initial COVID-19 lockdown.
The overall traffic volume also dropped to the lowest level for a November since 2015. Reduced shipments of grain were the main contributors, as flooding in British Columbia during the month temporarily halted rail shipments to and from the Port of Vancouver—a critical link in the Canadian agricultural supply chain.
To further explore current and historical data in an interactive format, please visit the Monthly Railway Carloadings: Interactive Dashboard.
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