Grain on the Move: What Rail Performance Means for Prairie Crop Delivery in 2025-26

The 2025-26 crop year has been marked by record grain volumes and persistent rail service shortfalls — a combination that should concern any Prairie producer with grain still in the bin. Both CN and CPKC have moved impressive tonnage, but hopper car fulfillment has been running below acceptable thresholds for months, and the reasons go well beyond weather. Understanding what is driving the performance gaps, and where the choke points sit, is directly relevant to decisions about delivery timing, elevator contracts, and cash flow planning.