Engineer and trackworker unions to oppose UP-NS merger

Two crew members stand next to their train as another train passes

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division will oppose the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger despite UP’s promises of lifetime job protection. “This debt-ridden tie-up won’t make rail more competitive with trucks as merger proponents claim,” BLET National President Mark Wallace said in a statement on Wednesday […]

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Congressmen from Mississippi, Louisiana voice support for UP-NS merger

Train crossing bridge over canal

WASHINGTON — A trio of Southern Democratic congressmen have come out in favor of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. Calling rail freight “vital to our states and the country’s economy,” a letter from U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, and Troy Carter and Cleo Fields of Louisiana urged Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs to […]

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Creel warns UP–NS merger is no ‘fait accompli’

Train with two locomotives and hopper cars on track parallelling street

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Canadian Pacific Kansas City CEO Keith Creel disagrees with Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena’s contention that the UP-Norfolk Southern merger will be a slam dunk in Washington. “I don’t think it’s a fait accompli. I do not,” Creel told an investor conference on Tuesday. “People are grossly underestimating the complexity of […]

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UP now expects to file NS merger application around Dec. 16

Freight train with two yellow locomotives passing under signal bridge

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern now expect to file their merger application with federal regulators around Dec. 16, two weeks later than they had originally hoped. UP CEO Jim Vena told an investor conference on Tuesday that one of the contractors working on a section of the application needed additional time […]

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Dozens of trade associations express concern over UP-NS merger

WASHINGTON — More than 60 trade associations have told federal regulators that they fear that Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern will raise rates, hurt service, and put too much traffic under control of a single railroad. “History has shown that increased rail consolidation leads to fewer choices, higher transportation costs, service […]

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Railroads debate merits of mergers and alliances

NEW YORK — BNSF Railway, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are touting interline partnerships as a way to gain new volume without having the regulatory and service-meltdown risks associated with a merger. But Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern say alliances are built on a foundation of sand, and can shift with the whims […]

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Three state attorneys general voice support for UP-NS merger

Freight train led yellow locomotive with Chicago skyline in background

WASHINGTON — Attorneys General in three states — including the headquarters states of both railroads — have announced their support for the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. In a Nov. 20 letter to Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick J. Fuchs, Attorneys General Chris Carr of Georgia, Mike Higlers of Nebraska, and J.B. McCuskey of West […]

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RailTrends opens with sharp debate over UP-NS merger

Yellow and black locomotives leading train of tank cars

NEW YORK — Rail industry officials focused on only three topics during the opening day of the RailTrends conference: Merger, merger, and merger. Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern dominated conversations and presentations on Thursday. Can the plan to create a transcontinental railroad win regulatory approval? Can it lead to volume growth […]

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