Cost of grain movement by rail escalates

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has approved a 3.5 per cent increase in the volume-related composite price index for grain movement this year.

The increase is geared toward offsetting increased rail costs for such things as labor, fuel and material.

The CTA says the hike applies to the movement of grain by railway companies from prairie grain elevators to terminals in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Thunder Bay and Churchill.