Predictions that congestion at rail yards in Canada’s interior would ease this month and next are not playing out so far, prompting frustrated importers and forwarders to ask for government intervention. The problems are most pronounced at rail hubs around Toronto and Montreal. Ocean carriers are struggling to find locations to receive empty containers and trucking groups have also called for government intervention. According to the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), the situation has been exacerbated by government efforts to help reduce congestion at west coast container gateways (notably Vancouver), which only served to push the problem to inland rail facilities already struggling to cope with volumes.
