The Land Transportation Board (STB) reported that it has resumed the procedural timeline for considering the merger application submitted by Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) .
“It is important to note that this decision does not constitute a ruling on the merits of the merger application or on the issues raised by commentators or in motions submitted since the applicants filed on July 27. The Board will address these matters in subsequent decisions,” STB stated.
The agency recalled that on May 28 it accepted the applicants’ revised major merger request for consideration, but suspended the procedure requiring the submission of additional information.
“This step ensured that STB had the necessary information to thoroughly evaluate the proposed transaction and allowed the public an adequate opportunity to comment on whether the transaction is in the public interest. The applicants submitted supplemental information to the Board on July 7 and 27, 2026. In today’s decision, STB considers the record now sufficient to resume the procedural schedule,” the statement said.
The decision, he mentioned, favors the timeline that is designed to provide stakeholders with sufficient time to consider the potential impacts of the proposal .
Therefore, he explained that those who wish to participate in the procedure as registered parties (i.e., those who want to be notified with copies of all documents submitted in this procedure) must duly submit a notice of intent to participate to the Board before September 4, 2026 .
He indicated that comments on the revised application, including objections, requests for conditions, and any other evidence or arguments against it, must be submitted by November 18. Responses to the comments must be delivered by February 16, 2027.
In addition to establishing a procedural timetable, the decision also orders applicants to resubmit, within 10 days, any working papers to which selection criteria have been applied .
The STB also denied the railroads’ request for expedited proceedings regarding their proposals to divest themselves of control of the St. Louis Terminal Railroad Association. The applicants’ working papers must be submitted by August 28.
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