Voices Against the Merger

“The STBs post-2001 “Major Rail Consolidation Procedures” were adopted specifically to place heightened emphasis on whether Class I railroad mergers enhance, rather than merely preserve, competition, and to ensure that any potential anticompetitive effects or other harms are outweighed by substantive and demonstrable gains to the public interest. In conducting its review, we strongly encourage the STB to take into consideration the impact the proposed merger, if approved, may have on our nation’s agricultural producers, and on the STBs mandate to preserve long-term competition and ensure efficient, economically viable rail service.“

“Attorneys general across the country have warned that this merger could reduce competitive options for shippers—a reduction that would ultimately increase costs for businesses and raise prices for consumers. At a time when the railroads are prospering financially, there is no reason to create a behemoth railroad that will take more money from farmers, shippers and ultimately consumers in our States and across the country.”

 “As the Surface Transportation Board (STB) considers the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), we write to express serious concern about the transaction and urge you to thoroughly investigate the potential impacts it would have on competition, workers, and safety in an increasingly consolidated rail industry. If approved, the unprecedented merger would not only create the first transcontinental railroad but it would significantly consolidate our nation’s transportation system, slashing rail jobs across the country, rising prices for customers and consumers, and create potential supply chain bottlenecks and greater market instability.”