CN Rail Update - BC Wildfires

Dear Customer,

We would like to update you on the network operations in Western Canada.

The province of British Columbia is currently battling numerous fires as a result of the severe heat that has been impacting the province since the beginning of July.

CN would like to advise our customers that the BC Wildfire Service has requested that we temporarily suspend operations in the affected area. Several of the fires are east of Lytton, and the fires are near our tracks in a number of areas. For the safety of our crews, we are currently not running trains between Kamloops and Lytton, BC.

At this time, we have no estimate on when we will be authorized to operate trains.

There are also fires raging very close to our track on the Lillooet line running from Vancouver to Prince George via Squamish, and as a result, we will not be running trains on that line today.

A reminder that at this time, an embargo remains in place preventing traffic to be billed westbound to Vancouver from northern BC and east of Kamloops, and from the BNSF, UP and Vancouver area towards the East. The BNSF and UP traffic into the Vancouver area is permitted. No permits will be issued at this time.

Intermodal traffic is not impacted by this embargo. It is strictly focused on carload traffic. 

The following information applies to Intermodal:

Domestic Intermodal 
We will continue to honor in-gate movement at all terminals across the network during the localized operating pause. This includes originating and destined traffic to Vancouver.

We will continue to closely monitor terminal fluidity and equipment capacity over the next 48 hours.

International Intermodal
We will continue to load import traffic at the Ports located in BC South as car supply with incoming trains improves and yard congestion reduces with trains departing eastbound.
 
Acceptance of Export loads and empties destined to Ports in Vancouver continue to be restricted. We are reviewing the in-gate acceptance of traffic on a case-by-case basis and will continue to keep you updated as the situation improves.

SOURCE: CN

Due to these unforeseen circumstances, Delmar anticipates increased congestion at the Port of Vancouver. Consequently, we expect continued vessel berthing delays and extended ETAs in the coming weeks.

Delmar will continue to monitor this situation and provide additional information and possible solutions as they become available.