INTERMODAL WEATHER UPDATE – EXTREME TEMPS IN WESTERN CANADA

Extreme cold is impacting Western Canada with another week of frigid temperatures felt from BC to NW ON.

With cold temps not anticipated to break in the next 48 hrs, it is suggested to allow for an extra day of transit with reduced rail speeds due to weather restrictions.

Our Intermodal Tracing team will be monitoring departures/arrivals of all Bison shipments and will communicate to Customer Service of loads impacted by weather.

Service alerts by rail are reporting the following:

• BC – No restrictions
• AB – Level 2
• SK/MB – Restrictions in the prairies to transition from Level 2 to Level 3 through the next 24hrs *Some areas may reach Level 4 restrictions with overnight lows*
• NW ON – Level 1

All restrictions are being monitored for adjustments based on safety requirements.

What do these levels impact?

• During cold temps, a train’s maximum speed must be reduced by 10-30% when the temperatures drop below – 25C.
• Train Speeds are adjusted incrementally based on temperatures and conditions.
• These speed decreases can also impact inbound placement when traffic arrives at terminals out of the scheduled slot time.
• Cold temps may also restrict allowable footage, which is adjusted in Levels 2, 3 & 4 outbound from terminals. This can increase terminal congestion, impacting operational performance within rail yards.
• Footage reductions would be applied at originating terminals so terminal congestion could also impact PQ & ON