Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) insisted that the merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) is unnecessary and would allow that company to handle almost 50% of freight rail traffic in the United States .

Keith Creel, president and chief executive of CPKC, said the railroads’ new application does not change the underlying reality and falls far short of meeting the standards set out in the Land Transportation Board’s (STB) updated 2001 rules on large mergers .

“A combined UP-NS could place nearly 50% of U.S. freight rail traffic in the hands of a single company that already has a troubled history—some very recent—of abusing market power to the detriment of American businesses and workers. None of this serves the public interest. None of this serves the interests of shippers. All of this puts our supply chains and our economy at unnecessary risk,” Creel said.

The executive recalled that on May 8, CPKC submitted comments on the integrity of the revised application, noting that UP and NS did not meet the STB’s specific requirements to submit a detailed analysis of the market impact based on their future projections of participation in rail traffic flows for major freight and corridors.

“This has led us to ask, did UP overlook this specific instruction from the STB? If not, does UP have something to hide? One thing is certain: this is emblematic of UP continuing to have its own interpretation of STB rules and orders, and how they apply to UP,” he commented.

In this regard, he opined that if the STB accepts the resubmitted request, it will carry out a rigorous regulatory evaluation and review.

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El cargo CPKC reiterates that the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger is unnecessary apareció primero en T21.

The State Transportation Board (STB) reported that it will announce on May 8 whether the new merger application between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) is complete in order to proceed with the proposed transaction.

“The board will determine the completeness of the reviewed request; such comments should address only whether it is complete, as comments on the merits of the proposed transaction will be sought at a later stage of the proceedings if the board accepts the request,” the agency said.

He specified that applicants can submit a response addressing any comments on integrity before May 12 , so that an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) can initially resolve all disputes for an efficient procedure.

“Interested parties should file any discovery motions as soon as possible to allow the ALJ to resolve discovery disputes expeditiously, and it may rule on any motion on the effective date of this decision,” he explained.

Following this comment and response period, the STB will make a decision on the completeness of the document , either accepting it as complete or rejecting it as incomplete. This determination should not be confused with a determination on the substance of the proposed transaction. If the STB accepts the document, it will issue a procedural timetable for comments on the substance of the proposed transaction.

Similarly, the STB required applicants to redesignate the Company Disclosure Annexes as public.

For its part, the railway company BNSF reported that it is carefully reviewing the application submitted by UP-NS, which covers approximately seven thousand pages.

“Although our review is still in its early stages, the fundamental premise of the proposed merger appears unchanged. For that reason, we continue to have serious concerns that this transaction is not in the best interests of customers, competition, or the freight rail network as a whole—concerns shared by many other industry stakeholders and government officials,” said Tom G. Williams, the firm’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

He commented that if STB accepts the request, it will act quickly to establish a formal procedural timeline , one of the main reasons being the deadline for clients and interested parties to submit a Notice of Intent to Participate.

However, he reiterated that they will provide more information and additional clarity on the procedural review established by STB, once they review the document.

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El cargo STB sets date to accept or reject UP-NS merger request apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) filed a new merger application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Thursday, with additional analysis reinforcing that the combination will boost growth, allow substantial savings for carriers, and strengthen the U.S. supply chain.

“After completing the additional work requested by the STB, the facts remain clear: This merger enhances competition and delivers real public benefits that strengthen America’s supply chain. Our analysis uses comprehensive, system-level traffic data provided by all Class I railroads to identify even more opportunities for our combined railroad to grow and compete,” said Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific.

He asserted that the analysis of the updated application is the first in the history of rail mergers to use 100% real traffic data provided by the six Class I railroads in North America, rather than the sample data available from the STB, making it the most comprehensive assessment of market and operational impacts to date.

Furthermore, he confirmed that the merger will make rail significantly more competitive with long-haul trucking , taking approximately 2.1 million trucks off the road. Shifting freight from trucks to rail will save nearly $3.5 billion annually, benefiting consumers and making American products more affordable. Carriers will also save on inventory and equipment costs through the faster and more reliable service of the combined rail system.

“This merger is fundamentally about growth. Shippers have been clear about what they value, and the data backs it up. When single-track rail service is available, they choose it. Our combined network will offer seamless freight transfers within and across Mississippi Basin markets, with a responsible Class I rail system from origin to destination,” said Mark George, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern.

It should be recalled that on January 16, the STB announced its rejection of the application and invited both companies to submit a revised application addressing the deficiencies identified in the decision. The STB specified that the railway companies must include a comprehensive system impact analysis, market share projections for the entity to be created through the transaction, and the complete merger agreement, including the submission of any contracts or other written instruments related to the transaction.

According to their current analysis, the UP-NS combination is an end-to-end merger that connects the eastern and western United States with the goal of achieving growth through new routes and improved service that eliminates interchange transfers that can add 24 to 48 hours and costs to the supply chain.

To address the additional growth opportunities identified with stronger Class I traffic data, the amended application increases the projected number of new premium intermodal lanes operating seven days a week from six to seven, with a new lane connecting Northern California and the Southeast. “The combined company will have sufficient equipment and infrastructure capacity to support projected growth.”

Furthermore, the document confirms that the merger will preserve customer access to competitive rail alternatives and will not have a significant impact on geographic competition or the availability of independent routes.

“Our projections show that the combined rail will travel roughly the same number of ton-miles as our western competitor today, underscoring how this merger will increase competition in the market. That competition will drive innovation and help reduce costs—benefits that American carriers and consumers will feel directly,” Vena said.

Additionally, it will also generate more well-paid union jobs , as the combined company is estimated to need 1,200 new union jobs by the third year of the merger to manage new business, up from 900 in the original request. “This growth adds to the unprecedented guarantee of lifetime jobs.”

“As requested by the STB, the amended application includes more detailed market share projections that account for the growth the combined railroad expects to achieve as carriers shift truck and other rail traffic to its faster, more reliable coast-to-coast service. The analysis confirms what we’ve been saying: our merger will generate strong growth by offering customers a superior service product, which in itself creates competition in the rail industry. The announcement of our merger alone has prompted other railroads to respond with new bids,” George commented.

Both parties asserted that the updated application complies with the guidelines and presents an even stronger argument for why the United States needs a seamless, coast-to-coast railroad to revitalize the rail industry. The transaction remains subject to review and approval by the State Transportation Board (STB) within its statutory timeframe.

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El cargo UP defends merger with NS; files new application with US authority apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) informed the Land Transportation Board (STB) that  it will submit a new application for its merger with Norfolk Southern (NS) on April 30 .

In a letter sent to the aforementioned organization, UP indicated that the decision was due to the fact that the first document submitted was considered incomplete by that regulatory authority.

“Union Pacific Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad Company, Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company are submitting this letter to inform the Board that they anticipate submitting a revised application on April 30, 2026,” the letter dated February 17 stated.

It is worth remembering that on January 16, the STB reported that it rejected the request and invited both companies to submit another one that addresses the deficiencies noted in the decision.

The STB specified that railway companies must include a full system impact analysis , market share projections for the entity to be created through the transaction, and the full merger agreement, including the submission of any contract or other written instrument relating to the transaction.

In addition to actual and projected market shares of certain revenues and traffic volumes that demonstrate, among other things, the impact of the transaction on competition, to name a few.

“In the application, the railway companies project that the merger will result in traffic growth, including diversions, and state that the full impact of the transaction will not be realized until three years after completion. However, they present as projected market shares only the sum of the estimated actual market shares of UP and NS for 2023. The application does not contain future market share projections that show the combined effects of merger-related growth, diversions, and merger-influenced changes, as well as other changes in market conditions that the applicants anticipate,” STB stated at the time.

In addition to those problems, the authority identified further deficiencies in the application , such as the control of the St. Louis Railroad Association Terminal, since it is a significant transaction, not a minor one; “the decision identifies several technical and minor aspects that must be addressed in any reviewed application.”

The US railroads filed their merger application on December 19, 2025, a nearly 7,000-page document that includes a record 2,000 letters of support from stakeholders, joining shareholders of both companies who cast votes with 99% in favor of the merger.

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El cargo Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will submit a new application to STB in April. apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) informed the Land Transportation Board (STB) that  it will submit a new application for its merger with Norfolk Southern (NS) on April 30 .

In a letter sent to the aforementioned organization, UP indicated that the decision was due to the fact that the first document submitted was considered incomplete by that regulatory authority.

“Union Pacific Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad Company, Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company are submitting this letter to inform the Board that they anticipate submitting a revised application on April 30, 2026,” the letter dated February 17 stated.

It is worth remembering that on January 16, the STB reported that it rejected the request and invited both companies to submit another one that addresses the deficiencies noted in the decision.

The STB specified that railway companies must include a full system impact analysis , market share projections for the entity to be created through the transaction, and the full merger agreement, including the submission of any contract or other written instrument relating to the transaction.

In addition to actual and projected market shares of certain revenues and traffic volumes that demonstrate, among other things, the impact of the transaction on competition, to name a few.

“In the application, the railway companies project that the merger will result in traffic growth, including diversions, and state that the full impact of the transaction will not be realized until three years after completion. However, they present as projected market shares only the sum of the estimated actual market shares of UP and NS for 2023. The application does not contain future market share projections that show the combined effects of merger-related growth, diversions, and merger-influenced changes, as well as other changes in market conditions that the applicants anticipate,” STB stated at the time.

In addition to those problems, the authority identified further deficiencies in the application , such as the control of the St. Louis Railroad Association Terminal, since it is a significant transaction, not a minor one; “the decision identifies several technical and minor aspects that must be addressed in any reviewed application.”

The US railroads filed their merger application on December 19, 2025, a nearly 7,000-page document that includes a record 2,000 letters of support from stakeholders, joining shareholders of both companies who cast votes with 99% in favor of the merger.

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El cargo Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will submit a new application to STB in April. apareció primero en T21.

BNSF Railway reiterated that the merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) presents serious risks to competition, service and the supply chain .

According to Tom G. Williams, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of BNSF Railway, he noted the above after reviewing the merger application that the companies submitted to the United States Land Transportation Board (STB) on December 19, 2025.

In a letter sent to its customers, it mentioned that the growth promises presented by the companies are unrealistic , since the combined volumes of UP and NS alone have decreased by 13% in the last decade.

However, the first one promises 12% growth in just three years, almost entirely thanks to the conversion of truck carriers to rail carriers.

“STB statistics show that UP already earns more revenue from higher fares than any other Class I railroad. When this growth in truck conversion doesn’t materialize, you’ll pay for their merger premiums with higher fares. The protections proposed by UP are a Trojan horse designed to get their application approved,” he emphasized.

Regarding the Gateway Tariff Commitment proposed by UP, he considered that it excludes almost all shippers . Only 0.4% of all rail freight transport would be eligible. Furthermore, it expires in a few years, “leaving you vulnerable to monopoly pricing.”

Williams also indicated that integration risks exist due to UP and NS’s “trust us” approach, which does not offer fundamental safeguards against serious supply chain disruptions on a much larger scale.

“The last time UP led a merger integration in 2008, the STB had to extend its oversight period twice due to the congestion problems it caused in Chicago,” he recalled.

He noted that the UP-NS merger request cites more than two thousand letters of support , including some 500 from shippers, representing less than 6% of all traffic on the U.S. rail network.

In contrast, the Rail Customers Coalition—which represents carriers of more than half of all rail freight volume—has stated that the merger would create near-monopoly power , increasing costs for manufacturers, farmers, energy producers, and ultimately, consumers. Similarly, the Teamsters Rail Conference and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen , which together represent more than half of all rail workers, warn that the merger would reduce competitiveness and increase safety risks.

“These numbers matter. The voices opposing the merger represent the vast majority of customers and rail workers who interact with UP and NS on a daily basis. As more stakeholders review the application, opposition is growing. The application is so lacking in substance that several key players have already asked the STB to reject it as incomplete. When the STB finally accepts the application as complete, it will publish a timetable that will include a short comment period. This will be your opportunity to raise your voice and protect your interests,” he stated.

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El cargo UP-NS merger will bring risks to the rail industry: BNSF apareció primero en T21.

Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) submitted their application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Friday , requesting approval to merge the two U.S. railroads.

The application, nearly seven thousand pages long, includes a record two thousand letters of support from stakeholders, joining shareholders of both companies who cast 99% of their votes in favor of the merger.

“We look forward to working with the Board as it reviews our historic application to create America’s first transcontinental railroad. As time and technology continue to transform how goods are delivered, our industry must keep pace and move forward, reaching underserved markets with new rail solutions and strengthening America’s supply chain,” said Jim Vena, CEO of UP.

He noted that this merger will connect the United States from coast to coast , transforming 10,000 existing interline service routes into a faster and more efficient single-line service, eliminating time-consuming transfers between railroads.

It will also eliminate approximately 2,400 railcars and containers and 60,000 rail-miles each day, competing more effectively with long-distance road transport, converting about two million road freight loads to rail annually.

In addition, it will provide one-way access to more than 100 ports connecting to global markets and 10 international gateways to markets in Canada and Mexico.

“ This combination will bring together UP’s extensive western reach and NS’s unmatched access to the East’s manufacturing and population centers in an end-to-end combination. It will create a coherent freight rail solution with 50,000 miles of routes connecting 43 states and more than 100 ports,” said Mark George, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern.

Following this announcement, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced that it formally received the UP-NS merger request and will review it thoroughly in the coming days.

“We will examine the application from at least two perspectives: whether it complies with the Board’s 2001 Major Merger Rules and whether it provides the STB and stakeholders with an adequate basis for assessing the public interest consequences of the proposed UP-NS merger,” he said.

He mentioned that the first step in the STB’s merger review process is to determine, before January 18, 2026, whether to accept the application for consideration or reject it as incomplete.

“If approved, the merger would pose extraordinary and far-reaching risks to customers, rail employees, and supply chains in general. We are confident that the STB will conduct a rigorous process to assess all the short- and long-term impacts on the public interest of this proposed behemoth, including the competition that rail customers face today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Katie Farmer, president and CEO of BNSF , commented that they are reviewing the STB’s presentation, although she clarified that “so far, BNSF’s opposition to the proposed merger remains unchanged.”

“The transaction poses a significant threat to the American economy and consumers due to its long-term competitive disadvantages. It would leave carriers with fewer options, leading to higher fares and ultimately higher prices for consumers. This did not begin with customers calling for this merger, and the claimed public benefits appear to accrue primarily to shareholders. Past mergers demonstrate the risk of serious service disruptions with destructive impacts on customers, the rail network, and the nation’s economy,” he said.

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El cargo Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submit merger application to STB apareció primero en T21.

The U.S. railroad NSF Railway has ruled that the potential merger between  Union Pacific (UP)  and  Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is unnecessary, anti-competitive, and would increase rates, impacting the U.S. supply chain.

“Our nation’s supply chain does not need the reduction in competitive options or the inherent integration risk we have seen occur after nearly every Class I merger. No customer is requesting a merger between UP and NS. It is driven by Wall Street with the promise of a large payout for shareholders,” the firm said in a filing.

Among the impacts, he said, the merger is expected to concentrate control of the country’s freight transport market in a single railroad, which would lead to long-term harm to competition and resilience in the national supply chain.

According to the railroad, the merger between UP and NSC would control 45% of the total U.S. tonnage , compared to the recent merger that created Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) , which resulted in control of 5% of the U.S. market.

In that sense, he emphasized that such a merger would bring less competition , meaning fewer alternatives and higher fares, as well as a reduction in capital investment across the entire rail industry.

“The revenue and efficiency gains claimed to justify the merger’s excessive premium simply don’t add up. Carriers will cover the $85 billion merger price tag, despite UP’s claims that it will be paid for through 10% growth over three years,” he said.

He also noted that UP has a history of increasing traffic fares and aggressively cutting costs, which will impact the entire supply chain, which is why industries such as the chemical and agricultural industries are actively opposing this merger.

“Truckload and agricultural customers will be the most affected, as they will lose the option to ship goods to the eastern United States or face significantly higher rates on traffic currently exchanged with NSC,” he said.

He reported that, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data , a combined UP-NSC railroad would control 50% of the chemical market (higher prices for consumer goods), as well as 50% of the metals market (higher construction costs) and 50% of lumber (higher housing costs).

The railroad company stated that if this merger were to materialize, 300 intermodal lanes would be closed . It recalled that after the last major round of mergers alone, 90 such facilities were closed.

“BNSF does not believe that the appropriate competitive response is to acquire CSX at this time. We should not be seen as the solution to correct the competitive imbalance that UP-NS is trying to create. Wall Street and UP would like to force BNSF into a competitive merger that would establish a coast-to-coast duopoly controlling over 90% of our nation’s rail traffic,” he stated.

He explained that the supply chain in general wants and needs greater collaboration between railroads and shared customers, greater technological innovation, and more strategic investments through privately funded infrastructure, as is being done with the Barstow International Gateway and the recent announcement with CSX.

He argued that these alliances provide more options while preserving competition and flexibility.

“BNSF must continue to offer competitive and efficient transportation services and grow alongside our customers. This requires competition, which is not possible with a dominant railroad resulting from the proposed UP-NS merger,” he emphasized.

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El cargo BNSF warns of supply chain impacts from potential UP-NSC merger apareció primero en T21.

El cargo Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern notify STB of intent to merge apareció primero en T21.