Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern discuss merger to create transcontinental railroad, AP source says

Source: Associated Press

Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern discuss merger to create transcontinental railroad, AP source says

By JOSH FUNK
Updated 9:32 PM EDT, July 17, 2025

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are in merger talks to create the largest railroad in North America that would connect the East and West Coasts.

The merger discussions began during the first quarter of this year, according to a person familiar with the talks who isn’t authorized to discuss them publicly. It would combine the largest and smallest of the country’s six major freight railroads.

Both railroads declined to comment.

Within the industry there is widespread debate over whether such a merger would be approved by the Surface Transportation Board even though those regulators approved the deal that created CPKC railroad two years ago with the Canadian Pacific’s $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern railroad.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-norfolk-southern-railroad-merger-36fc5493d5dc1b48abe5dd8374d0076c