WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) are urging the Surface Transportation Board to “keep the best interests of rail shippers and consumers in mind” during the board’s upcoming review of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, expressing concerns about the merger’s impact in a letter to board members.
Meanwhile, Nebraska’s two senators — Republicans Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts — have issued statements supporting the merger because of its economic impacts on their state.
The letter from Baldwin and Marshall, dated Tuesday, July 29, express concerns that “a merger of this magnitude would diminish options for industry to transport goods, increase costs, create more unreliable service for U.S. shippers, and reduce overall competition in a market where the number of carries has diminished since 1950.”
It also says the rail industry “has proven to be more concerned with increasing their rates and profits rather than improving their service. … As the remaining Class I railroads continue to profit, shippers are left with unreliable railroad service and high rates because they have limited to no other options to move goods to market at a reasonable rate.”
Marshall and Baldwin are sponsors of the Reliable Rail Service Act (S. 2104), which seeks to further define railroads’ common carrier obligation and how the STB can measure adherence to that obligation [see “Senate bill aims to improve rail service …,” News Wire, June 20, 2025]. The bill is currently in the hands of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has yet to take action.
Fischer and Ricketts both focused on local benefits from the merger in their statemetnts. Fischer, in a social media post, said, “This merger not only has the potential to create many more jobs, but it will also provide seamless transcontinental service. I look forward to seeing the growth that will come to our state as a result of this crucial partnership.” Ricketts, in a statement on his website, said, “Consolidating another railroad company’s headquarters at the Union Pacific headquarters in Omaha will benefit our state even more. This has the potential to create jobs, increase wages, and streamline the supply chain. This merger is a great deal for Nebraska and America.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has yet to comment.
Trains News Wire will continue to monitor legislative and other governmental reaction to the proposal.
If S2104 passed and signed that would put more oversight onto the Class 1s for both freight and Passenger. Actually getting signed almost impossible.