The complex problem of moving goods from Point A to Point B has been made even more complicated by record-breaking rainfall and flooding in B.C. that has washed out rail lines and highways in the lower mainland. Experts say the floods have taken an already tight supply chain and made it even tighter, at the worst possible time. Most highways in and out of Vancouver have effectively been shut down, bringing truck traffic to a crawl. While trucks are used for shorter haul distances of comparatively smaller loads, trains handle the bulk of transport, and both of Canada’s major rail lines, CN and CP Rail have confirmed that their networks have been impacted.
The outage will only exacerbate the situation at the Port of Vancouver, which was already congested because of previous supply chain issues related to the pandemic, and the rail lines in question are the main arteries in and out of the port.
Depending on the extent of the damage, the rail companies expect to have most of their lines back up and running within a week or so, but clearing the global backlog in supply chains will take much longer.
For more information, please call David Lychek, Director – Ocean & Air Services at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1207
