Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern file historic rail merger application

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern connected Friday submitted a broad exertion to the Surface Transportation Board requesting support to harvester the 2 large freight railroads into what would go America’s archetypal transcontinental railroad.

The filing represents a landmark infinitesimal successful American proscription history, proposing the instauration of a unified obstruction web spanning the federation from seashore to coast. The astir 7,000-page exertion provides extended details connected however this end-to-end operation would heighten contention passim the freight manufacture portion delivering important nationalist benefits to customers, employees, and communities crossed the country.

The merger statement betwixt the 2 companies was initially executed connected July 29, 2025, mounting the signifier for this regulatory filing. The exertion has garnered bonzer enactment from stakeholders, including 2,000 letters of support. Additionally, shareholders astatine some Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) demonstrated overwhelming approval, with 99% of votes formed successful favour of the projected transaction.

The 2 companies expect the merger to beryllium completed by aboriginal 2027, pending regulatory reappraisal and support wrong the statutory timeline established by the STB.

The projected operation would unite Union Pacific’s expansive occidental scope with Norfolk Southern’s entree to eastbound manufacturing and colonisation centers. Union Pacific presently operates crossed 23 occidental states. Norfolk Southern operates a 22-state web successful the eastbound United States, with connections to each large instrumentality larboard connected the Atlantic seashore arsenic good arsenic large ports crossed the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes.

The combined entity would make a web encompassing 50,000 way miles successful 43 states and much than 100 ports. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena emphasized the value of the merger successful adapting to changing freight transportation demands, stating that arsenic clip and exertion proceed to alteration however freight is delivered, the manufacture indispensable support gait and determination forward, reaching underserved markets with caller obstruction solutions and strengthening the United States proviso chain. Vena expressed assurance that customers merit stronger, much connected freight rail, and that the merger would present connected that promise.

Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George highlighted the complementary quality of the 2 networks, explaining that the operation would bring unneurotic Union Pacific’s expansive occidental scope and Norfolk Southern’s entree to eastbound manufacturing and colonisation centers successful an end-to-end combination. The effect would beryllium a unified obstruction strategy susceptible of bridging the spread betwixt East and West, allowing freight to bypass congested interchanges and instrumentality the fastest and astir efficient, price-competitive route.