Voices Against the Merger

Colin 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."

Jeff 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."

Lindsay 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."

Ray 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."

Mike 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."

Trey Santos - Rancher, Texas

"I am concerned about the impact this merger will have on competition…If this merger is approved, the two companies would create a near duopoly, further reducing competition and leaving farmers with fewer options and higher costs at a time when margins are already razor thin and railroad companies are already hard to find."

Zach Bevins - Owner of Bevins Renovations, St. Louis, Missouri

"If this merger goes through, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would control a significant share of the freight rail market—effectively creating a near duopoly. That kind of market dominance stifles competition and often leads to rising transportation costs. When those costs climb, they're eventually passed down to the customer, making essential goods and services more expensive for everyone."

Sunny Black - Small Business Owner, Madison, Alabama

"As a small business owner, I have seen firsthand the consequences that large consolidations can have on operations across the supply chain. When major rail mergers are poorly executed, service slows, congestion increases, and small businesses like mine bear the brunt of the disruption. These challenges ripple through our local economies, especially impacting small manufacturers and mom-and-pop businesses that lack alternative shipping options..."

Parker Ward - Owner of Swamp Fire Seasoning, Shreveport, Louisiana

"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. If the merger is approved, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would form a near duopoly. This would be detrimental to competition. And competition is the backbone of our economic system in America."

John Johnson - Farmer, Montgomery County, Missouri

"When transportation becomes more expensive or unreliable, the impact on agriculture is immediate and significant. These kinds of changes don't just affect big companies; they put pressure on independent farmers, strain rural economies, and can lead to long-term damage for communities that rely on farming… Fewer carriers mean fewer choices and higher costs-and that's not a burden we can afford to carry."

Justin Hollis - Rancher, Texas

"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."

Brennan Kucera - Rancher, Texas

"My family has been ranching in Texas for generations. We rely heavily on freight rail to move essential goods to bring our crops or livestock to market and ensure we can compete globally… If this merger is approved, the two companies would create a near duopoly, further reducing competition and leaving farmers with fewer options and higher costs at a time when margins are already razor thin."

Vinny Oliver - Pecan Farmer, Texas

"My family has been farming pecans in Texas for generations. We rely heavily on freight rail to move essential goods to bring our crops to market and ensure we can compete globally. When rail service falters…it creates ripple effects across the entire supply chain. These changes can be the difference between a profitable season or closing the doors on a farm that has sustained the community for generations… If this merger is approved, the two companies would create a near duopoly, further reducing competition and leaving farmers with fewer options and higher costs at a time when margins are already razor thin."

Charlie Buckels - Small Business Owner

"My decades long business experience has enabled me to understand the importance of supply chain management and availability, especially for small business. For that reason I believe the proposed UP-NS merger presents a great amount of uncertainty and a likely increase in transportation cost."

Travis DeCock - Owner of DeCock Services, LLC

"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. If the merger is approved, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would form a near duopoly. This would be detrimental to competition. And competition is the backbone of our economic system in America."

Gabe Freeman - Resident of Bossier, Louisiana

"In Bossier, produce and beef are king and many of the farmers throughout the great state of Louisiana rely on the railroad for distribution. We need to protect consumers and prevent rail industry consolidation from leading to higher costs and weaker service."

Ben Terrill - Business Consultant, Missouri

"Businesses like mine depend on reliable rail service to ship the supplies we need to operate and deliver our products to customers. As a small business owner for several 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 who are impacted the most."

Rob Salvino - Goods Distribution Professional, Missouri

"We have reason to be distrustful [of claimed benefits] because we have already gone through this exercise many times before. They say that they’re going to grow volumes; they never grow volumes. They say that workers jobs are going to be preserved; and we see furloughs, layoffs, and worse bargaining power for railroad workers. They say that safety is going to be improved; and now we see hundreds of derailments a year."

David Renard - Resident, Missouri

"I'm writing as a lifelong Missourian who is concerned about the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. While this may look like a business decision on paper, its real-world consequences could be felt in every corner of Missouri, from family dinner tables to farm fields to factory floors… Mergers like this one often reduce options for shippers, leading to higher transportation costs that ripple through the entire economy."

Andy Hedge - Small Business Owner, Alabama

"If this merger goes through, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would control most of the rail network. That kind of dominance leaves very little room for competition, and when competition drops, costs go up. Eventually, those higher costs trickle down to customers — and everyone feels it."

Kelly Reese - Small Business Owner, Alabama

"As an entrepreneur, I’ve built my business from the ground up with a lot of hard work, determination, and not a lot of extra cushion. When large corporations merge and competition disappear, it’s small, independent businesses — especially those that are minority- or women-owned — that end up paying the price. Shipping delays, higher costs, and less reliable service hit us directly, while big companies can usually absorb the impact."

Mike and Rachel Fearon - Farmers and Small Business Owners, Ohio

"This proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would form a near duopoly and be detrimental to competition. Businesses like ours depend on reliable rail service to ship the supplies we need to operate; farms like ours require consistent transport of our crops. Poorly executed rail mergers slow service and cause congestion, disrupting the supply chain and our ability to get products to customers..."

Kevin Selhorst - Owner of North Star Hardware & Implement, Ohio

"Consolidating two companies of this size would create an even tighter grip on the market, pushing the freight rail industry closer to a duopoly. For business owners like me who rely on dependable affordable shipping across sectors that means fewer choices and greater risk…Rail is more than a logistical system—it is the backbone of local economies and we cannot afford changes that weaken competition or compromise safety."

Marvin Harrell - Owner of Harrell Custom Clothes, Birmingham, Alabama

"…I know from experience that these mergers often bring more challenges than benefits. As an African American entrepreneur, I understand what it takes to build something from the ground up—often with fewer resources and steeper hills to climb. When large corporations merge and competition fades, it’s the small, independent businesses—many of them minority-owned—that get squeezed the hardest. Delays, higher shipping costs, and unreliable service can hit us in ways big companies barely feel."

Marcie Stammen - Small Business Owner, Ohio

"When rail competition weakens, service suffers. Shipping costs rise, options shrink, and delays increase. Those burdens don't just hit businesses—they ripple through the supply chain until families feel them directly in the form of higher prices for groceries, household goods, and other essentials. I am a capitalist, which is why I am concerned about the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern…Consolidating two companies of this size would create an even tighter grip on the market..."

Kennedie Goubeaux - Resident of Russia, Ohio

"Without strong safeguards, this merger risks creating even greater concentration of power in an industry already dominated by a few players. For communities like Greenville, [Ohio] that could mean fewer choices, more costs for small businesses, and additional strain on working families."

Adam Stewart - Owner of Sweet Brew, Alabama

"If this merger goes through, it will put even more control into the hands of just a couple of rail companies. Less competition usually means higher prices and fewer choices, especially for businesses like ours that don't have the leverage of a large corporation."

Joseph Summers - Owner of Minerva Defense, Huntsville, Alabama

"The proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) threatens our nation’s agricultural industry, which is uniquely reliant on a competitive nationwide rail network… The significantly increased market power of a combined UP-NS would reduce competition, service and optionality for agricultural shippers…America’s agriculture industry is already facing financial stress and can’t afford less competition and an expansion of captive markets on a combined UP-NS."

Dr. Jon Davis - Dentist, Ohio

"Most people don’t immediately think about railroads when they think about dentistry, but like many small-town professionals, I depend on a reliable supply chain…That’s why I’m deeply concerned about the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern… Mergers of this scale have real consequences. When competition is reduced, service often declines, costs rise, and the ripple effects are felt far beyond the rail yard."

Dr. Gregory McGlinch - President of Down Home Farms, Ohio

"When rail service falters – whether through higher rates, reduced options, or poorly executed mergers – it creates ripple effects across the entire supply chain. These changes can be the difference between a profitable season or closing the doors on a farm that has sustained the community for generations… I am concerned about the impact this merger will have on competition."

Rob Davis - Resident of Troy, Ohio

"Through my career in business, I've seen firsthand how critical reliable and affordable freight rail is to both large and small operations across our state…History has shown that major consolidations often lead to slower service, higher shipping costs, and fewer options for companies trying to stay competitive. Those costs don't stop at the loading dock—they ultimately affect everyday consumers through higher prices for groceries, fuel, and other essentials."

Matt Armbruster - Owner of Ransom Recycling, Mobile, Alabama

"This proposed merger could have serious negative consequences for small businesses like mine that depend on reliable rail service to receive supplies and deliver products efficiently and on time. As a small business owner, I have seen firsthand how large consolidations can disrupt operations throughout the supply chain. … These disruptions ripple through local economies, especially hurting small manufacturers and family run operations that lack the leverage or flexibility to find alternative shipping options."

Bill Coomer - Businessman, Ohio

"…I am deeply concerned about the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. As someone who has run businesses across different industries, I know firsthand what happens when rail competition is reduced. Service slows, costs rise, and delays cascade across every part of the supply chain."

Blair Blacker - Owner of Setatech, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama

"As a small business owner, I have seen firsthand the consequences that large consolidations can have on operations across the supply chain. When major rail mergers are poorly executed, service slows, congestion increases, and small businesses like mine bear the brunt of the disruption. These challenges ripple through our local economies, especially impacting small manufacturers and mom-and-pop businesses that lack alternative shipping options."

Aaron and Betsy Ward - Owners A&B Coffee & Cake Co., Ohio

"We recently learned of plans for Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, two of the nation’s largest railroads, to merge. For businesses like ours, that’s not just a news headline—it’s a real concern. We’ve seen what happens when rail service falters: deliveries are delayed, costs spike, and small businesses like ours are left scrambling to keep the doors open."

Bill Knapke - Farmer, Ohio

"As a multi-generational small family farmer, I understand the importance of freight rail… I am deeply concerned about the effect this [merger] will have on compeititon… Agriculture depends on a fair and competitive rail system, and we cannot afford changes that further erode it."

Megan Schmitmeyer - Farmer, Ohio

"As a multi-generational small family farmer, I understand the importance of freight rail… When rail service suffers—whether through rising rates, fewer options, or poorly structured mergers—the ripple effects spread across the supply chain…I am deeply concerned about the effect this will have on competition."

Joyce Long - Resident of Greenville, Ohio

"In Greenville, Ohio, rail has always been more than just a line on a map—it's the backbone of local commerce… Through the years, I saw what happens when competition in the rail industry is diminished. Reduced competition usually means slower service, higher shipping costs and fewer options for businesses. Those costs never stop at the factory gate—they trickle down, raising prices for everyday families in the form of more expensive groceries and essentials."

Eric Hare - CEO of Global K9 Protection Group, Opelika, Alabama

"If this merger is approved, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create what amounts to a near duopoly, further reducing competition. Less competition in rail service almost always leads to higher costs across the board. And when businesses can’t absorb those costs, they inevitably trickle down to consumers — the people who can least afford to pay more for essential goods."

Amanda Suffecool - Business Owner Manufacturing Professional, Ohio

"When rail competition weakens, service suffer. Shipping costs rise, options shrink, and delays increase. Those burdens don't just hit businesses, they ripple through the supply chain until families feel them directly in the form of higher prices for groceries, household goods and other essentials."

Frank Granberry - Farmer, Alabama

"When rail service struggles…it doesn’t just hurt farmers. It sends shockwaves through the entire supply chain. For folks like us, those changes can mean the difference between a food year and shutting the gates on a farm that’s supported our family and our community for decades… These are two of the largest rail companies in the country, and if this deal goes through, it would leave even fewer options for shippers like us."

Matthew Aultman - Farmer, Ohio

"I am concerned about the impact this merger will have on competition. The freight rail industry is already dominated by a small number of players. If this merger is approved the two companies. would create a near duopoly, further reducing competition and leaving farmers with fewer options and higher costs at a time when margins are already razor thin."