Union Pacific announced that it will delay the submission of its formal merger application with Norfolk Southern to the Surface Transportation Board until mid‑December, pushing the filing from the originally planned December 1 date to around December 16.
The postponement stems from a contractor’s need for additional time to finalize the extensive application, which is expected to exceed 4,000 pages. The delay also allows Union Pacific to address mounting opposition from rival railroads and trade groups that have raised concerns about the merger’s impact on competition.
Rival railroads—including BNSF Railway, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City—have filed petitions with the STB, citing past compliance issues and arguing that the combined network would reduce competitive pressure on shippers. The STB will review the application under the stricter 2001 rules that require a demonstration of public interest and competitive benefit.
Union Pacific’s CEO Jim Vena said the company is focused on ensuring the application is “exceptional” and that the delay will not alter the projected closing date of early 2027. The company estimates merger‑related expenses in the tens of millions, but the exact figure has not been disclosed.
The delay introduces additional uncertainty into the regulatory review process and could extend the timeline for approval. Investors and shippers are watching how Union Pacific navigates the heightened scrutiny, as the merger would create the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, spanning more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states.
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