October was a record setting month for both of Canada's major railways.

CP Rail set a new record for shipping Canadian grain and grain products in October, with 3.04 million metric tonnes (MMT) moved, the first time ever CP has exceeded 3 MMT in a month. This exceeds the highest-ever record for a month, set in April 2020, by 6.9 percent. It also betters the previous October record of 2.66 MMT, set in 2019, by 14.2 percent.

CP has so far placed 3,300 new hoppers into service out of a commitment for 5,900 laid out in 2018. The new high-efficiency cars carry 15 percent more grain volume and 10 percent more weight compared to the older cars they are replacing.

CN Rail said it exceeded the previous record of 2.88 MMT of Canadian grain moved set in October 2019 and was on track to exceed the previously unattained 3 MMT mark. This performance follows seven record months of Canadian grain movement in March, April, May, June, July, August, and September.

CN also announced that it will be receiving its first shipment of the 1,500 North American Built, new generation, high-capacity, grain hopper cars, with 100 cars already received and another 500 expected to be in service between now and the end of the year.