January 20, 2026
On January 16, 2026, the Surface Transportation Board rejected the Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific merger application, as submitted on December 17, 2025. Merging two of the largest railroads in the nation would have enormous implications for the US economy and transportation system. ELPC submitted a notice of Intent to Participate in these proceedings in December to protect the public interest.
Statement by Kevin Brubaker
Deputy Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center
“The Environmental Law & Policy Center applauds the Surface Transportation Board for rejecting the insufficient Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific merger application. This proposed merger would have profound effects on the movement of goods and people across the country and especially in the nation’s railroad hub of Chicago.
“The Board rightly concluded that the merger application did not contain sufficient detail to identify what those effects would be. Greater transparency is essential in a consequential merger such as this one.
“Should the railroads choose to resubmit a merger application, ELPC will be looking closely at the impacts on passenger rail – a key climate solution and economic driver which depends on cooperation from host freight railroads. A combined UP-NS would control 57% of Amtrak’s national network. In addition, the Federal Railroad Administration has selected an additional 33 potential passenger rail corridors for study that would operate over UP-NS tracks. Whatever the future holds for these companies, ELPC is committed to ensuring passenger rail can continue to grow and improve.”