Building for Growth: Trade, Rail, and Related Infrastructure

Canadian exports bound for Europe and Asia are increasing, which will increase pressure on Canada’s rail and marine freight infrastructure. The objective of this report is to explore whether or not Canada’s rail-to-marine networks will be able to accommodate this growth through 2025. The report first details Canada’s recent and changing trade patterns in terms of commodities, their origins, and their destinations. Following that is a discussion of current rail capacity and performance, and marine port capacity in Canada. Next, the report explores the impact that petroleum products are likely to have on the rail system. Subsequently, we model the increase in freight rail volumes for 24 of Canada’s largest rail commodities through 2025. The report concludes by examining the ability of Canadian ports and railways to accommodate the forecasted growth.