Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger Application

Union Pacific Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation have jointly filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to approve their proposed merger. This combination aims to create the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, spanning approximately 7,000 miles and connecting 43 states. The merger is expected to enhance competition, improve freight movement efficiency by eliminating an estimated 2,400 daily rail car and container handlings, and convert an estimated 2 million truckloads from road to rail annually. The companies emphasize that all union jobs will be protected, with projected creation of around 900 net new union jobs within three years post-merger. The application details benefits such as faster single-line service, a unified digital customer experience, and significant capital investments totaling an estimated $2.1 billion. The merger is projected to reduce carbon emissions by shifting freight from trucks to rail and is anticipated to be completed by early 2027, subject to STB approval.