“[T]his merger isn’t about trains and tracks–it’s about people. It’s about the engineers, brakemen, crew members and electricians who make American industry possible. Take it from me: when we strengthen our supply chain and create more good jobs, we strengthen the workforce that powers our nation.”

“A coast-to-coast network is more than a logistical achievement. It could be a needed boost for communities too often left behind. Too many communities, particularly in rural America, struggle to access reliable freight service. When products can’t move efficiently, businesses stall and workers lose opportunities. A seamless national rail system would help close those gaps, ensuring that economic growth reaches more corners of the country.”

“This merger changes everything. For the first time, America will have uninterrupted coast-to-coast rail service connecting 50,000 route miles across 43 states and linking more than 100 major ports. This is not just a step forward; it's a transformational leap toward a truly unified national freight system.”

"Farmers depend on efficient rail service to get their crops to market and their inputs delivered on time. By uniting these rail networks, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are taking a logical step to improve agricultural logistics. We expect to see faster grain shipments, fewer delays and better rail access.

We believe this will help link our rural communities to more markets. In practical terms, that means our co-op can move Minnesota & Iowa corn and soybeans to customers on the Eastern Seaboard or Gulf Coast seamlessly and bring in fertilizer and feed ingredients from afar with less disruption. This merger will strengthen the farm supply chain and help us serve our growers even better.”

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“Today, we can say with confidence that the biggest railroad and the biggest rail union in America are breaking new ground. We are protecting jobs, protecting families and protecting the future of the U.S. supply chain... This is a bold agreement, and I’m proud of the mutually beneficial work done here and what Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and SMART-TD were able to accomplish.”

“This is a significant breakthrough in U.S. freight transportation. By knitting together a coast-to-coast rail network, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are creating new efficiencies that will benefit everyone – from logistics providers like us, to our customers, to the end consumers. As a company that operates thousands of trucks and thousands of intermodal containers, we know the power of combining modes. This unified rail system will let us seamlessly integrate our trucking with rail on cross-country shipments like never before. The result will be faster deliveries and lower fuel usage, which is great news for American businesses.”