Intensifying Opposition to the Proposed $85B Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger

Washington, D.C. — September 5, 2026: The proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern — set to create the first coast-to-coast single-line freight railroad in U.S. history — is facing escalating opposition from labor unions and Congress as the Surface Transportation Board (STB) prepares to review the deal.

Over 102 members of the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR), signed a letter dated September 3, urging the STB to safeguard rail workers’ jobs if the merger is approved. Major unions, including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Teamsters Rail Conference, have voiced serious concerns about safety, job security, increased shipping rates, and loss of local community control.

The unions caution that safety could deteriorate post-merger, citing Union Pacific’s weaker safety track record compared to Norfolk Southern’s improvements since the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment.

If approved by regulators, the merged entity — to be named The Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad — would operate over 50,000 route miles across 43 states and control nearly 40% of the nation’s freight. Proponents, including Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena and President Donald Trump, argue the deal would shave one to two days off delivery times and shift 2.1 million truckloads from highways to rail annually. The STB’s decision is expected in 2027.

Source: RaillyNews — Growing Opposition to the UP-NS Merger in the USA