House group urges STB to closely scrutinise proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger
By Jeff Berman · 5 February 2026
Summary
A coalition of 47 members of the US House of Representatives, led by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), has asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to carry out a rigorous, comprehensive review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). The letter demands that the merger demonstrate clear, measurable and substantial benefits for domestic manufacturers, agricultural producers, the energy sector and consumers — groups that depend on an efficient, competitive and cost-effective freight rail system.
The letter highlights worries about further consolidation in an industry that has already shrunk from 30 Class I railroads to six since 1980. It notes past post-merger service disruptions and increased market power that spurred the STB to tighten merger rules in 2001. The STB previously ruled the UP–NS application incomplete, saying it lacked required market-share projections and full system impact analyses; applicants were directed to indicate by 17 February whether they will file a revised application.
Key Points
- 47 House members urged the STB to perform a thorough review focused on competition and the public interest.
- The letter insists the merger must show tangible benefits for manufacturers, farmers, the energy sector and consumers.
- Concerns stem from increased consolidation: an UP–NS combined network would span about 55,000 miles and handle nearly half of US rail freight.
- The STB found the initial UP–NS filing incomplete because it lacked projected market shares and full system impact analyses required under merger rules.
- Rival railroads (BNSF and CN) and industry stakeholders have asked the STB for more disclosure; the Teamsters and others have raised service and pricing concerns based on past mergers.
- Analysts expect UP and NS to revise the application; some forecasts push a final decision into 2027 as the review proceeds carefully.
Why should I read this?
Because if you ship goods, manage supply chains or care about freight costs and service reliability, this could change the game. Major rail consolidation affects routing options, pricing power and service resilience — so this letter and the STB’s response tell you whether the merger will be policed hard or glide through. Short version: pay attention.