Let's Talk Facts: It Doesn’t Surprise Me the Opposition is Nervous
Key Takeaways:
● The proposed combination will create America’s first seamless transcontinental railroad. The network is designed to reduce freight delays and improve efficiency nationwide.
● The combined network is projected to remove 2.1 million trucks from U.S. highways each year. The shift from truck to rail is expected to lower shipping costs and emissions.
● The combination will strengthen competition and support economic growth. The railroads also project expanded market access and new union job growth.
● The proposed combination will create America’s first seamless transcontinental railroad. The network is designed to reduce freight delays and improve efficiency nationwide.
● The combined network is projected to remove 2.1 million trucks from U.S. highways each year. The shift from truck to rail is expected to lower shipping costs and emissions.
● The combination will strengthen competition and support economic growth. The railroads also project expanded market access and new union job growth.
Kenny Rocker, Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales for Union Pacific | July 9, 2026
Kenny Rocker
When you receive negative claims about this merger, it’s worth asking two questions: who is telling me this, and, most importantly, what do they have to gain? Much of what’s circulating right now is coming from competitors who stand to lose when we become faster, more competitive, and easier to do business with. That context matters. Let’s have a real conversation about a couple negative comments the opposition is using.
The claim: “The STB’s decision means the deal won’t go through”
Let me give you a real example of how this gets planted. A competing railroad recently told one of our partners the deal won't be approved. Consider who benefits from planting that doubt. Railroads across the U.S. and Canada have come out vocally against the merger because they would have to compete, putting pressure on their margins.
Here’s the truth. The STB accepted our application as complete, a meaningful milestone toward a more competitive U.S. rail network. They’ve asked for additional detail in a few areas, and we welcome the chance to further strengthen the record. We’ve already submitted part of what they requested, and the rest will follow before the end of the month. This is the first transcontinental rail combination reviewed under the STB’s current rules, and the most data-rich application they have evaluated. The STB’s questions reflect diligence, not doubt. The STB has up to a 12-month statutory timeline to complete evidentiary proceedings once the application has been accepted, which sets the evidence period to close in May 2027. This requirement is an undisputed fact.
The claim: “This merger creates a monopoly”
This is one of the most misleading claims. Railroads carry only 27% of total ton miles in the U.S. freight market, and we compete every day with trucks, barges, ships, pipelines and air. That competition will continue after the merger. Even within rail, the combined network would carry roughly 39% of rail ton miles (2023 reviewed data), well below the figures the opposition likes to cite. That would make the combined entity the same size as BNSF, and no one has said the BNSF is too big to fail. Union Pacific’s and Norfolk Southern's networks connect end to end, making this combination complementary, not overlapping. Claims of a ‘monopoly’ rely on selective statistics and don’t hold up when you consider that this combination is built to take freight off the highway and strengthen competition, not limit your choices.
I am not asking you to take our word for it. I am asking you to stay engaged and have a conversation with us to understand what this means for your business. Every time I leave a customer meeting where the merger is discussed, customers have a clearer understanding and feel more encouraged by what they hear once the facts are on the table.
So let's talk. Reach out to me or your Union Pacific sales team and tell us what concerns you and excites you. Don't let anyone's scare tactics decide what's best for your business. That decision is yours, and I'm here to help you make it with the facts in hand. Let’s go!!
Sincerely,
The claim: “The STB’s decision means the deal won’t go through”
Let me give you a real example of how this gets planted. A competing railroad recently told one of our partners the deal won't be approved. Consider who benefits from planting that doubt. Railroads across the U.S. and Canada have come out vocally against the merger because they would have to compete, putting pressure on their margins.
Here’s the truth. The STB accepted our application as complete, a meaningful milestone toward a more competitive U.S. rail network. They’ve asked for additional detail in a few areas, and we welcome the chance to further strengthen the record. We’ve already submitted part of what they requested, and the rest will follow before the end of the month. This is the first transcontinental rail combination reviewed under the STB’s current rules, and the most data-rich application they have evaluated. The STB’s questions reflect diligence, not doubt. The STB has up to a 12-month statutory timeline to complete evidentiary proceedings once the application has been accepted, which sets the evidence period to close in May 2027. This requirement is an undisputed fact.
The claim: “This merger creates a monopoly”
This is one of the most misleading claims. Railroads carry only 27% of total ton miles in the U.S. freight market, and we compete every day with trucks, barges, ships, pipelines and air. That competition will continue after the merger. Even within rail, the combined network would carry roughly 39% of rail ton miles (2023 reviewed data), well below the figures the opposition likes to cite. That would make the combined entity the same size as BNSF, and no one has said the BNSF is too big to fail. Union Pacific’s and Norfolk Southern's networks connect end to end, making this combination complementary, not overlapping. Claims of a ‘monopoly’ rely on selective statistics and don’t hold up when you consider that this combination is built to take freight off the highway and strengthen competition, not limit your choices.
I am not asking you to take our word for it. I am asking you to stay engaged and have a conversation with us to understand what this means for your business. Every time I leave a customer meeting where the merger is discussed, customers have a clearer understanding and feel more encouraged by what they hear once the facts are on the table.
So let's talk. Reach out to me or your Union Pacific sales team and tell us what concerns you and excites you. Don't let anyone's scare tactics decide what's best for your business. That decision is yours, and I'm here to help you make it with the facts in hand. Let’s go!!
Sincerely,
Kenny Rocker
Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales
Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales