CN, CPKC publish grain service plans for next crop year

CN and CPKC have published their 2026-2027 grain plans, which outline the Class Is' grain market outlooks and service delivery plans for the forthcoming crop year.

CN achieved 10 months of record grain movement in the 2025-26 crop year. This performance reflects strong collaboration between CN and the broader grain supply chain, CN officials said in a press release.

The full CN grain plan assesses the upcoming crop-year forecast and provides an overview of network capacity. The Class I expects to move 30 to 33 million metric tons (MMTs) of grain and processed grain products by carload from western Canada during the 2026-27 crop year, compared to a "maximum sustainable end-to-end supply chain capacity" of 36.7 MMTs, CN officials said. The Class I has the people, equipment and operating plan in place to meet anticipated demand.

"While confident in its ability to meet customer demand, CN remains prepared to adapt to changing market conditions throughout the crop year while maintaining a safe and fluid railway," they added.

Meanwhile, CPKC is on track to reach "near record volumes" for the transportation of Canadian grain and grain products for the 2025-2026 crop year.

Based on current projections and subject to market demand and supply chain strength, CPKC plans to have capacity to move up to 34.5 MMT of Canadian grain and grain products throughout the 2026-27 crop year. The full CPKC grain report also outlines the Class I's recent capacity improvements and efforts to improve network fluidity, among other things.

"CPKC is once again well positioned to transport Canada’s grain crop to market," said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel in a press release. "We look forward to once again safely delivering grain service excellence throughout the 2026–2027 crop year."

The two Canadian Class Is are required by federal law to submit annual grain service outlook reports to the Minister of Transport.