STB Should Reject Opponents’ Baseless Prima Facie Challenges; Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern Merger Application Easily Meets the Standard
OMAHA, Neb. & ATLANTA, August 26, 2026--Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern demonstrated today that opponents' prima facie challenges should be squarely rejected. In their response filing, the railroads emphasized that their application, which includes extensive evidence and represents months of work, easily satisfies the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) threshold requirements. It gives the STB everything it needs to begin its full review and provides overwhelming confirmation that the proposed combination is in the public interest.
On Aug. 18, the STB issued the procedural schedule for the transaction, advancing the proceeding into the next phase of regulatory review. The schedule establishes the framework for public comments, evidentiary filings and the STB's evaluation of the application.
"We've more than cleared the threshold to move review of this transaction forward, and opponents' efforts to kill the deal do not change the facts," said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. "We submitted an unprecedented amount of evidence showing why this transaction is good for our employees, customers and America. The facts show this merger will create a stronger, more efficient single-line rail network that improves service for farmers and American industry, strengthens competition and moves more freight off the highway and onto rail – a service product our opposition is afraid to compete with."
"Our application clearly shows this merger is about growth," said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George. "While delivering great public benefits, including better affordability for shippers and, ultimately, consumers. Additionally, we're guaranteeing unionized employees jobs for life, while creating new jobs to support increased demand and expanded service. By bringing these two great networks together, we will reverse the loss of share to the highway and actually grow rail's share of freight transportation, creating new opportunities for our workforce while delivering long-term benefits for the customers and communities we serve."
The application demonstrates the combined railroad will deliver concrete, measurable benefits, including:
Create new, faster single-line service opportunities for more than 88,000 county-to-county lanes and expand single-line service across 10,000 existing lanes, removing 24-48 hours from the supply chain.
Generate approximately $1 billion in annual operating savings and unlock approximately $3.5 billion in annual savings for customers that shift freight from truck to rail.
Reduce highway congestion and emissions while improving driver safety by diverting 2.1 million truckloads to rail.