A strong month of June propelled CN Rail and CP Rail to move record quantities of grain in the second quarter of 2020.

CN Rail is on pace to move a record shipment of grain this crop year as well, following the record movements in June and the quarter.

In total this crop year, CN has moved 26.9 million tonnes of grain, up from 26.5 million at this point last year.

Between January and June, CN Rail moved 15 million tonnes of grain, 8.15 million tonnes of that in the second quarter, and 2.7 million tonnes in the month of June, for a fourth consecutive monthly high.

Canadian Pacific Railway moved slightly more grain in the second quarter, shipping 8.41 million tonnes and 2.76 million tonnes in June.

The railway says it was their best three-month stretch since 7.9 million tonnes was moved in the fourth quarter, and it was the best June in six years when they moved 2.4 million tonnes.

The country's railways have ramped up shipments of Western grain by using larger hopper cars and trains while customers have been investing in elevator networks to accommodate 8,500-foot trains.