Prairie farm groups and shippers are anxious to see Bill C49 finally put into action.

The Transportation Modernization Bill has been passed by the Senate.

APAS President Todd Lewis said that he is happy that the bill has finally be passed.

"I think we've got to be pleased with what has been put forward so far," he said. "But it's always going to be how it's implemented and what the real results are. That was always the pressure to get this bill passed because we really won't know until enacted and in place. I certainly hope the railroads have been preparing for this day and got good plans in place."

The bill, among other things, is designed to prevent grain shipments from getting backlogged again.

Lewis is commanding all parties in the House of Commons and Senate for the passage of Bill C-49 noting this has been a very complicated consultation and legislative process.

"It's still far from perfect, but it's a starting point and let's get it in place," he said. "The focus now should be on the current service from the railroads and ensuring there is a good plan put in place for August 1 and going into next winter we don't have issues like we've had this past winter."

Among other things the Transportation Act allows for interswitching, reciprocal penalties between grain shippers, railways and grain companies for poor service, as well the CTA has own motion power to act if they see a crisis coming in the grain sector.

Lewis also expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of prairie farm groups who came together in representing the interests of producers.