PRESERVE RAIL COMPETITION
Voices Against the Merger
Government and Political
U.S. House of Representatives - On Behalf of 47 Republican Members
"As representatives of states and congressional districts that rely on competitive and reliable rail service to move goods essential to the U.S. economy, we have a strong interest in ensuring transactions that could concentrate market power, reduce competition, or degrade service are carefully scrutinized. Also, and consistent with the Trump Administration’s pro-growth economic agenda, we remain keenly focused on ensuring government decision-making does not result in the costs of goods and services going up for American businesses and consumers."
See moreU.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Roger Marshall
"[W]e are concerned 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 carriers has diminished since 1950."
See moreTransportation Interim Committee of the 69th Montana Legislature
"The Transportation Interim Committee of the 69th Montana Legislature writes to express strong concern regarding the proposed merger of the Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) rail corporations… Agriculture in particular requires time-sensitive shipments during harvest seasons, and any service interruptions can cause product spoilage and losses in global as well as domestic markets."
See moreTan Parker - State Senator, Texas
"I write because I strongly believe that Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s proposed merger presents significant risk for the Texas and the U.S. economies. I am concerned the merger will harm shippers and their customers by eliminating competition, disrupting service, weakening the U.S. supply chain, and increasing transportation rates."
See moreCoalition of 7 State Attorneys General
"By entrenching a single rail behemoth across key east-west corridors, the deal would shackle domestic manufacturers, energy producers, and farmers with higher rates and fewer shipping options, thereby blunting their competitive edge against foreign rivals, squeezing household budgets, and weakening the supply chains that underpin our national security."
See moreCoalition of 47 U.S. Congresspeople
"We also want to underscore at the outset that the responsibility to demonstrate clear, measurable, and substantial benefits for domestic manufacturers, agricultural producers, the energy sector, and the American consumer—all of whom rely on an efficient, competitive, and cost-effective freight rail system—rests squarely with the applicant railroads. Absent such a showing, the Board should not permit this transaction to proceed."
See moreBusiness and Industry Leaders
TUCO, Inc.
"TUCO Inc. believes that Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s proposed merger presents significant risk for businesses like ours and the U.S. economy. We are concerned the merger will harm shippers and their customers by eliminating competition, disrupting service, weakening the U.S. supply chain, and increasing transportation rates."
See moreDuluth Area Chamber of Commerce
"The merged railroad would become the dominant provider in several key commodity sectors vital to our local economy, including lumber and wood products, coal, chemicals, pulp and paper products, intermodal containers among others. These sectors support a wide range of industries in northeastern Minnesota. Reduced competition in rail service could lead to higher transportation costs, fewer routing options, and diminished access to markets."
See moreWillmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
"Farmers, ranchers, and processors in our region depend on flexible, reliable rail service to move grain, oilseeds, livestock feed, and processed products to domestic and export markets. Reduced competitive pressure or diminished service options could lead to higher transportation costs, less favorable terms, and slower resolution of local service issues."
See moreGNA-Brook Fire Protection
"We are concerned the merger will harm shippers and their customers by eliminating competition, disrupting service, weakening the U.S. supply chain, and increasing transportation rates. This would lead to higher costs for American businesses, making it harder for America to compete in global markets and harder for everyday Americans to afford basic necessities."
See moreAmerican Rail Center
"The proposed UP–NS merger poses a material threat to the viability of independent, CSX-served transload service providers like ARC. Past experience with the Conrail breakup demonstrates how failure to preserve routing parity and access structure can permanently displace neutral facilities and consolidate market power."
See moreSaint Paul Commodities
"While railroads are essential to the nation's economy, this transaction if approved; would substantially reduce competition, increase market concentration, and create significant risks for shippers like myself."
See moreAssociations and Trade Groups
American Farm Bureau Federation - On Behalf of 6 Million Member Families
"[The merger] would leave farmers more dependent on fewer railroads at a time when they already have almost no ability to walk away from higher costs or poor service. The merger does not create new competition for agriculture. It removes what little leverage remains by eliminating key routing and interchange options that currently help keep rates and service in check."
See moreAmerican Iron and Steel Institute - On Behalf of 21 Member Companies
"The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) writes to express its strong concerns with the proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). AISI is concerned that this merger, given its unprecedented scope and scale, would undermine market competition, resulting in a freight system that reduces the ability of American manufacturers to compete with foreign competitors."
See moreTransportation for America
"Mergers between major freight railroads often trigger service cuts or track closures, changes that could reduce passenger train service for communities that rely on rail. As regulators push back on an incomplete filing, these potential impacts underscore why passenger rail and the communities it serves must remain central to the review."
See moreSouth Dakota Soybean Association
"The South Dakota Soybean Association (SDSA) is concerned that the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern could result in supply chain disruptions and increased transportation costs for soybean farmers in South Dakota, as has been demonstrated in past rail mergers."
See moreSouth Dakota Soybean Association
"[H]istory shows that consolidation within an industry, particularly when it results in only a few dominant players, often reduces competition, leading to higher costs and diminished service. With more than 40 percent of South Dakota soybeans destined for export markets, transportation bottlenecks or delays moving products east or west during harvest season would be especially damaging. Any increase in rail rates would further strain already thin margins managed by farm families."
See moreAmerican Chemistry Council - On Behalf of More Than 190 Member Companies
"Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are trying to fast-track an unnecessary, unwanted, and potentially crippling merger that would create a coast-to-coast rail monopoly - one that puts imports ahead of American-made goods. At a time when the top concern for Americans is the cost of living and inflation, policymakers must stand with consumers and reject any deal that fails to promote competition over monopolies and drives prices even higher."
View statementCommunity
Steven Connolly - Jacksonville, Florida
"Single line railroad service is often stated as a reason to approve railroad mergers and single line railroad service also comes at a price: longer trains and a reality that will impact many communities across this proposed merger."
See moreColin Finney - Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
"The Surface Transportation Board’s mandate is to ensure that rail mergers serve the public interest, not just the private efficiency of the carrier. A merger that cements a regional monopoly while actively blocking the restoration of passenger service does not meet that standard."
See moreJeff Smith - Former Supply Chain Manager for Major Glass Manufacturer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
"With fewer alternatives available, shippers will likely face higher rates, which increase costs for producers and ultimately drive up prices for consumers. Industries such as agriculture, energy and manufacturing in Pennsylvania are especially vulnerable to these changes, which could disrupt supply chains and economic stability."
See moreLindsay Williams - President, Super Neighborhoods 64 & 88 (Texas)
"As a small business owner for 10 years, I've seen the effect large consolidations can have on small business operations. Poorly executed rail mergers slow service and cause congestion, disrupting the supply chain and our ability to get products to customers – and it's the mom-and-pop stores and new business trying to get on their feet like mine, who feel it the most."
See moreRay Griffin - Owner of Cochiara Marina, Lafitte, Louisiana
"As a small business owner for 10 years, I've seen the effect large consolidations can have on small business operations. Poorly executed rail mergers slow service and cause congestion, disrupting the supply chain and our ability to get products to customers – and it's the mom-and-pop stores and new business trying to get on their feet like mine, who feel it the most."
See moreMike Beardslee - Farmer, Missouri
"When harvest hits, timing is everything… Without dependable rail service, things back up fast. Delays cost money, and when freight rates climb, it eats into already thin margins. That hits small towns hard, not just farmers, but grain elevators, truckers, fertilizer suppliers, seed dealers. Fewer railroads mean fewer options. And when there's less competition, there's less incentive for service to improve or prices to stay reasonable."
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