Data through 2026-10-25 (25 October 2026)
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Floods cut both rail lines and the highways serving the Port of Vancouver

Floods cut both rail lines and the highways serving the Port of Vancouver. The disruption ran from 2021-11-16 (16 November 2021) to 2021-11-23 (23 November 2021), 8 days, affecting Vancouver (CA). The measured effect for this event has not been computed yet.

World Freight Monitor permanent record. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/floods-cut-rail-and-road-links-port-of-vancouver-2021/. Record last updated 2026-10-29.

Key facts

Started
2021-11-16 (16 November 2021)
Ended
2021-11-23 (23 November 2021)
Status
ended
Severity
2 Moderate
Scope
port
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
Canada
Confidence
high: The port authority's dated operations updates and Canadian Pacific's own release confirm the rail halt, the CP reopening on 2021-11-23 and the CN estimate; the start date is the first day the port's update documents the halt, so the storm's first effects may precede it.
First reported
2021-11-16 (16 November 2021)
  • Severity basis: Rail service to and from the port was halted from 2021-11-16 until 2021-11-23 (seven days) while trucks kept serving all four container terminals, so the nearest rubric match is a stoppage of 24 hours to seven days; a measured effect may justify a correction.

What happened

Flooding and mudslides after an atmospheric river storm that began on 2021-11-14 (14 November 2021) damaged the railways and highways linking the Port of Vancouver to the rest of Canada. On 2021-11-16 the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said all rail service to and from the port had stopped, because neither CN nor CP could run trains between Kamloops and Vancouver. Trucks kept serving all four container terminals, and demand for ship anchorages neared capacity. British Columbia declared a province-wide state of emergency effective 2021-11-17. Canadian Pacific reopened its line on 2021-11-23 (23 November 2021) and trains from both railways used it, while CN expected its own line to open on 2021-11-25.

Measured effect

Port calls, Vancouver (CA)

Not yet computed. The effect engine (wfm-effect-1.2) will compare 2021-11-16 to 2021-11-23 with a 56 day baseline ending 8 days before the start, once the series for this window is loaded.

Port calls, Vancouver (CA)Port calls, Vancouver (CA), 2021-09-07 (7 September 2021) to 2022-01-04 (4 January 2022): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-11-29 to 12 calls per day on 2021-10-30, with a mean of 5.2 calls per day. The latest value, for 2022-01-04, was 5 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-11-16 to 2021-11-23.035810132021-09-072021-11-062022-01-04
Port calls, Vancouver (CA), 2021-09-07 (7 September 2021) to 2022-01-04 (4 January 2022): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-11-29 to 12 calls per day on 2021-10-30, with a mean of 5.2 calls per day. The latest value, for 2022-01-04, was 5 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-11-16 to 2021-11-23.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-10-21 (21 October 2026).

Port calls, Vancouver (CA) (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2021-09-073
2021-09-085
2021-09-095
2021-09-104
2021-09-115
2021-09-126
2021-09-137
2021-09-145
2021-09-159
2021-09-169
2021-09-177
2021-09-184
2021-09-196
2021-09-206
2021-09-2110
2021-09-224
2021-09-237
2021-09-249
2021-09-255
2021-09-265
2021-09-274
2021-09-284
2021-09-296
2021-09-304
2021-10-018
2021-10-0210
2021-10-036
2021-10-047
2021-10-055
2021-10-065
2021-10-077
2021-10-087
2021-10-093
2021-10-104
2021-10-116
2021-10-129
2021-10-137
2021-10-145
2021-10-153
2021-10-166
2021-10-176
2021-10-187
2021-10-199
2021-10-207
2021-10-216
2021-10-225
2021-10-237
2021-10-246
2021-10-254
2021-10-263
2021-10-277
2021-10-284
2021-10-296
2021-10-3012
2021-10-317
2021-11-016
2021-11-024
2021-11-037
2021-11-043
2021-11-054
2021-11-065
2021-11-078
2021-11-086
2021-11-094
2021-11-1010
2021-11-118
2021-11-125
2021-11-138
2021-11-144
2021-11-156
2021-11-164
2021-11-173
2021-11-184
2021-11-194
2021-11-202
2021-11-216
2021-11-224
2021-11-233
2021-11-247
2021-11-251
2021-11-265
2021-11-271
2021-11-283
2021-11-290
2021-11-304
2021-12-013
2021-12-024
2021-12-031
2021-12-044
2021-12-051
2021-12-066
2021-12-077
2021-12-087
2021-12-096
2021-12-108
2021-12-111
2021-12-126
2021-12-133
2021-12-147
2021-12-157
2021-12-166
2021-12-1711
2021-12-183
2021-12-193
2021-12-202
2021-12-214
2021-12-228
2021-12-235
2021-12-245
2021-12-250
2021-12-260
2021-12-275
2021-12-285
2021-12-295
2021-12-305
2021-12-312
2022-01-011
2022-01-022
2022-01-032
2022-01-045

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Container ship port calls, Vancouver (CA)

Not yet computed. The effect engine (wfm-effect-1.2) will compare 2021-11-16 to 2021-11-23 with a 56 day baseline ending 8 days before the start, once the series for this window is loaded.

Container ship port calls, Vancouver (CA)Container ship port calls, Vancouver (CA), 2021-09-07 (7 September 2021) to 2022-01-04 (4 January 2022): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-09-07 to 3 calls per day on 2021-10-02, with a mean of 0.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2022-01-04, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-11-16 to 2021-11-23.01232021-09-072021-11-062022-01-04
Container ship port calls, Vancouver (CA), 2021-09-07 (7 September 2021) to 2022-01-04 (4 January 2022): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-09-07 to 3 calls per day on 2021-10-02, with a mean of 0.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2022-01-04, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-11-16 to 2021-11-23.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-10-21 (21 October 2026).

Container ship port calls, Vancouver (CA) (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2021-09-070
2021-09-081
2021-09-091
2021-09-100
2021-09-110
2021-09-121
2021-09-131
2021-09-142
2021-09-151
2021-09-161
2021-09-171
2021-09-180
2021-09-192
2021-09-200
2021-09-212
2021-09-220
2021-09-231
2021-09-241
2021-09-250
2021-09-260
2021-09-272
2021-09-280
2021-09-291
2021-09-300
2021-10-011
2021-10-023
2021-10-030
2021-10-041
2021-10-053
2021-10-061
2021-10-071
2021-10-081
2021-10-091
2021-10-100
2021-10-111
2021-10-122
2021-10-131
2021-10-141
2021-10-151
2021-10-160
2021-10-172
2021-10-182
2021-10-192
2021-10-200
2021-10-211
2021-10-222
2021-10-231
2021-10-242
2021-10-250
2021-10-260
2021-10-272
2021-10-280
2021-10-290
2021-10-302
2021-10-311
2021-11-011
2021-11-021
2021-11-031
2021-11-040
2021-11-052
2021-11-060
2021-11-072
2021-11-081
2021-11-090
2021-11-102
2021-11-110
2021-11-121
2021-11-131
2021-11-142
2021-11-152
2021-11-161
2021-11-171
2021-11-181
2021-11-191
2021-11-200
2021-11-210
2021-11-221
2021-11-231
2021-11-240
2021-11-250
2021-11-261
2021-11-271
2021-11-281
2021-11-290
2021-11-300
2021-12-010
2021-12-021
2021-12-030
2021-12-041
2021-12-051
2021-12-061
2021-12-071
2021-12-081
2021-12-090
2021-12-102
2021-12-110
2021-12-121
2021-12-130
2021-12-143
2021-12-150
2021-12-161
2021-12-171
2021-12-181
2021-12-190
2021-12-201
2021-12-210
2021-12-222
2021-12-231
2021-12-240
2021-12-250
2021-12-260
2021-12-272
2021-12-281
2021-12-291
2021-12-301
2021-12-311
2022-01-010
2022-01-020
2022-01-031
2022-01-041

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. An atmospheric river storm begins in British Columbia. Canadian Pacific later reports damage at 30 locations on its Thompson and Cascade subdivisions, 20 with significant loss of infrastructure. [s6]
  2. The port authority says all rail service to and from the port is halted. CN and CP report that no trains can move between Kamloops and Vancouver, and flooding has also closed the main highway routes into the region. [s1] [s7]
  3. A provincial state of emergency takes effect for all of British Columbia for an initial 14 days. The port authority says it has no timeline for resuming rail service. [s2]
  4. The port authority reports trucks running normally at all four container terminals and anchorage demand nearing capacity across all vessel types. CP says rail lines could be restored by the middle of the following week. [s3]
  5. Canadian Pacific announces it will reopen its line between Kamloops and Vancouver by midday on 2021-11-23. [s6]
  6. CP runs two inspection trains and expects regular service to start later that day, with both CP and CN trains using the line under slow orders. CN moves its own line's estimated opening to 2021-11-25. [s4]
  7. The port authority reports four trains crossed CP's line the previous day, with more CP and CN trains expected that day under low speed limits. [s5]

Cause

The port authority attributed the disruption to widespread flooding in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the British Columbia interior, which damaged rail and road infrastructure. Canadian Pacific attributed its damage to the atmospheric river storm that began on 2021-11-14. Attributed by: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. [s1] [s3] [s6]

Resolution

2021-11-23 (23 November 2021): Canadian Pacific reopened its Kamloops to Vancouver line and regular rail service started over it on 2021-11-23, carrying both railways' trains at reduced speed. CN expected to open its own line on 2021-11-25. The port authority warned that more rain was forecast and that closures could recur. [s4] [s5] [s6]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-10-29 (29 October 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Port of Vancouver operations update, published 2021-11-16 (16 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Port of Vancouver operations update, published 2021-11-18 (18 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  3. [s3] Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Port of Vancouver operations update, published 2021-11-19 (19 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  4. [s4] Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Port of Vancouver operations update, published 2021-11-23 (23 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  5. [s5] Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Port of Vancouver operations update, published 2021-11-24 (24 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  6. [s6] Canadian Pacific, Canadian Pacific to reopen B.C. rail corridor Tuesday; important work ahead to rebalance supply chain, published 2021-11-22 (22 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (official)
  7. [s7] CBC News, Stressed supply chains snarled anew as B.C. floods wash out rail lines, roads, published 2021-11-16 (16 November 2021), accessed 2026-10-28. Archived copy. (press)

Cite this record

The address of this record is permanent and a correction is always logged on this page, so a citation names the version you read. Add the date you accessed it.

Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "Floods cut both rail lines and the highways serving the Port of Vancouver." Last updated 2026-10-29 (29 October 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/floods-cut-rail-and-road-links-port-of-vancouver-2021/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). Floods cut both rail lines and the highways serving the Port of Vancouver. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/floods-cut-rail-and-road-links-port-of-vancouver-2021/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_floods_cut_rail_and_road_links_port_of_vancouver_2021,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {Floods cut both rail lines and the highways serving the Port of Vancouver},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-10-29},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/floods-cut-rail-and-road-links-port-of-vancouver-2021/}
}