Supporters

“The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern transcontinental railroad is not just about laying down track; it is about building a faster, stronger, resilient American supply chain and fulfilling a vision more than 160 years in the making.”

“As a Mayor in DFW whose community depends on how these goods are delivered, I believe it is critical we seize opportunities that grow our economy, improve quality of life and secure Texas’s future for decades to come. The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger is one of those opportunities.
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Let’s keep Texas—and America—on the right track.”

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“This merger doesn’t just connect the coasts—it connects American producers to American consumers. It ties together Louisiana’s industrial might with the manufacturing resurgence underway across the country. And it sends a clear message: America is serious about building, shipping, and buying American again.”

“As an intermodal logistics company, we’re thrilled to see these railroads join forces. A single-line coast-to-coast rail service will make shipping more efficient than ever—no handoffs in between means faster deliveries, easier scheduling and greater reliability for our containers. This merger will let us work with one integrated rail partner from origin to destination, which translates to better service for our customers and our drivers. RoadOne fully supports the UP–NS merger because it will strengthen the intermodal supply chain and help us serve shippers better than ever.”

“Merging these railroads into one network is a big win for domestic logistics. A single-line, coast-to-coast service means no mid-route handoffs, so containers will reach their destinations faster and with fewer complications. For Dassler and our customers, this translates to more reliable deliveries and a smoother supply chain nationwide. We fully support the UP–NS merger because it will help us deliver even better service to American businesses.”

“It will be fascinating to watch, provided the UP Norfolk Southern transaction goes forward. Number one, that's a really impressive network that they're going to have in place. We have a lot of experience, obviously, with UP because we probably send more on UP than any other railroad. Their efficiency has been very good. … So we don't look at it and feel that there's any peril to our business. They are good business partners. They move material for us from producing locations to yards throughout the United States.”

“Instead of relying on foreign competitors or overburdened highways, America will now have a seamless coast-to-coast rail system capable of moving steel, timber, petrochemicals, and grain with greater speed and lower cost. This is how you rebuild an industrial economy—by connecting producers directly to customers across the country, without bottlenecks or foreign interference.”

“The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the recent announcement about the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern as a forward-looking development with the potential to strengthen the national transportation network and support continued economic growth.”

“We wholeheartedly support this merger and the vision of a truly transcontinental railroad. Union Pacific’s strong Gulf Coast network has long been the backbone of our petrochemical logistics operations. Linking that network directly with Norfolk Southern’s East Coast routes will create unprecedented efficiencies. It means the plastic pellets and other products we handle can reach key markets faster and more seamlessly than ever. In short, it’s a win for shippers and for the entire supply chain.”

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“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.”

“Utah’s inland position makes us a natural gateway in this new network. This strengthens our role as a critical logistics hub, giving Utah manufacturers, shippers, and businesses faster, more reliable connections while boosting our economy and workforce.”

“Railroads have long been the backbone of our country’s transportation network. This merger fortifies that backbone, and we’re proud to stand behind it every step of the way.”

"As an 83-year-old trucking company, we have seen dramatic changes in the logistics industry over the years and the creation of a seamless coast-to-coast rail carrier would be one more step toward improving the transportation infrastructure. We support the additional movement of goods by rail across the country while still maintaining a strong truck network for the final delivery miles. The potential improvement in transit times, and reduced transportation costs, across the United States via a nationwide rail service is better for supply chains and consumers. We support the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger as the next phase of service improvements in the movement of goods within the United States."

“Ironhorse Resources has long benefited from our strong connections with Union Pacific, and we fully support its merger with Norfolk Southern. This combination will give our customers direct rate access to an even greater number of markets, expanding opportunities and creating meaningful value for shippers across our network.”

“The proposed merger represents a reasoned and logical step forward for the national rail system. The combined network should unlock efficiencies that benefit all stakeholders—from large and small shippers, communities and consumers, and railroads and logistics providers. Rio Grande Pacific looks forward to collaborating with the newly combined railroad to help our shippers capitalize on new routing options, new potential markets and growing service enhancements. We’ve long advocated for greater operational alignment in the freight rail industry. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, as one, will deliver world-class safety cultures, more reliable service, and new opportunities for regional railroads like ours to contribute to a dynamic national freight solution.”

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“What does the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger mean for North Iowa? Better connections to the East Coast and global markets, more affordable and efficient shipping for our industries, and stronger opportunities for our local economy.”

"Get the government out of the way and let American businesses work together to strengthen the USA!"

"These delays across the country are not minor technical issues. They are economic drag. Freight sits idle while transferring between carriers. Aging infrastructure and poor coordination can make it worse. Costs rise for manufacturers, retailers, and, ultimately, American families. The solution is straightforward. Streamline the system. That could mean strategic mergers, like has been proposed by UP and NS in their merger that will create the first transcontinental railroad in our country, targeted infrastructure upgrades, or both. The goal is simple: move goods faster, more reliably, and more affordably. This is not a partisan issue. It is an economic necessity. Every day America waits is a day lost in competitiveness and efficiency. It is time to update our freight rail system for the needs of the 21st century. The economy cannot wait, and neither can the people who rely on it."

“Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern coming together is a significant step forward for our industry. As a data-driven logistics company, we know how valuable a unified coast to coast rail network will be. It means one set of standards, smoother information flow, and ultimately a faster, more reliable movement of goods for our customers. We fully support this merger and look forward to the improvements it will bring to U.S. freight service.”

“This merger would allow the interchange system to be less complex, to be less of a problem, because what happens at these interchanges, you're usually moving them onto rail lines from different companies, so that means there's a higher risk of your shipment being delayed by a few days if something is wrong, they lose the rail cars occasionally as well. And so if we can streamline these interchange issues, then we're taking out the inefficiencies compared to trucks, where you just load into the truck and drive to the location and you're good. It's much more difficult to compete with trucks when you're at risk of losing track of the goods on the rail car.”

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"Beyond its transportation benefits, establishing a coast-to-coast railroad through the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger supports a key national objective: rebuilding the U.S. manufacturing base. Supply-chain disruptions in recent years have shown how critical dependable logistics are for keeping plants running and shelves stocked. Every day saved in transit, every reduction in shipping cost, and every improvement in network reliability directly affects whether American-made goods can compete with foreign alternatives."

"It’s only fitting that America’s largest railroad, Union Pacific, joins forces with Norfolk Southern to become exactly what our country needs to compete — and win — for every American citizen. By design, the UP-NS combination will revive American manufacturing, create high-quality careers, and use commerce as a powerful conduit to connect people like never before."

“Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern joining forces is tremendous news for intermodal transportation. As an intermodal marketing company, MODE Global looks forward to converting even more long-haul truck freight to rail thanks to this coast-to-coast network. The improved transit times and single-carrier service will mean faster, more reliable deliveries for our customers and lower shipping costs for beneficial cargo owners. Ultimately, those savings will benefit the entire American economy – when shippers save, consumers do too. We fully support this merger and hope to see it approved, because it will make freight transport cheaper and better for everyone.”

“As a fourth-generation trucking executive, I’ve seen our industry evolve from my great-grandfather’s Model T to today’s Intermodal networks. A seamless coast-to-coast rail carrier is something we’ve dreamed about for years. This merger lets us combine the best of rail and trucking — moving freight farther with less fuel and fewer emissions, then delivering the last mile by truck. It means faster transit, greater capacity, and lower costs. For our customers, that translates to improved supply chain efficiency and savings we can pass on to consumers. It’s better for our business, our customers, and the country.”

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“We are thrilled to see Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern join forces. This merger is a game-changer for the industry, creating a coast-to-coast railroad that will make shipping more efficient than ever. For our customers, it means they’ll be able to move goods from one end of the country to the other on a single railroad, which translates to faster delivery and lower transportation costs. We’ve witnessed first-hand the power of combining truck and rail through our partnership with Norfolk Southern – our Chicago transload facility saw a 62% surge in volume after NS invested in it. With these railroads united, we’re excited to see even greater opportunities to help businesses streamline their supply chains. The Transload Group fully supports this merger and urges its swift approval. Railroads have always been the backbone of America’s freight transportation. This merger brings that backbone to its strongest form yet, and we’re proud to support it every step of the way.”

“Wildcat is completely supportive of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger. We understand the inherent and complex challenges in any railroad’s operation. This merger will obviously present numerous opportunities for decreased friction and increased efficiency gains, and will result in a decrease to Uinta Wax’s reputational risk as well as negative financial impacts to our customers. We have worked with Union Pacific’s management for many years and believe wholeheartedly that they will capitalize and capture the many opportunities available in this merger.”

"As a business that ships our product from the Southeastern U.S. to consumers in the West, we think that having seamless connections from origin to destination would benefit our operation greatly. The simplicity and efficiency of a coast-to-coast rail carrier is a concept, that in my opinion, is long overdue. We look forward to the many benefits that combining the Union Pacific and the Norfolk Southern will bring to shippers and receivers of rail-transported commodities.”

"Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern continue to be pillars of our national freight infrastructure. Their commitment to safety, innovation, and efficiency plays a vital role in driving Nebraska's economy forward. As a Public Service Commissioner, I greatly appreciate their efforts in growing strong rail connectivity across our State and Nation."

“Yes, we'll be more competitive to get cargo to the Eastern seaboard of the US for several reasons. Number one, you'll have one company that carries your cargo from LA to New York to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Baltimore, et cetera, all the way down the Eastern seaboard. Today, that cargo gets handed off in Northern Chicago … from the UP to an East Coast railroad.”

"This historic announcement by [Norfolk Southern] is great news for Georgia’s growing economy and expanding logistics network. A transcontinental railroad is essential for the future of moving goods across America. This partnership will create jobs, while increasing accessibility for Georgia businesses shipping goods. I want to applaud everyone who made this possible and look forward to seeing these plans come to fruition."

"For decades, [Norfolk Southern] has played a critical role in the success of our state’s #1 industry - helping Georgia farmers get their products to markets across the country and around the globe. We are excited to see their continued growth and success and to continue to build on the strong relationship between our state and NS."

“One timely topic that we believe is important to address is the impact of the announced merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern on the future of the intermodal industry, as well as Hub Group and its potential growth. For context, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are the exclusive rail partners of Hub Group in the United States. For decades, we have worked collaboratively with both companies to drive growth and scale our operations through excellent service and commercial alignment. The proposed merger presents a new and exciting opportunity for our partnership to grow and be differentiated. There are several catalysts that should create significant incremental intermodal conversion from over the road, including improved fluidity in the gateways, leading to faster transits and better asset utilization, enhanced fuel efficiency, and access to additional lanes of market. These enhancements should lead to a large opportunity for intermodal conversion due to improved reliability and service quality as well as improved freight economics.”

“Congratulations to Union Pacific and its entire team on their announcement to acquire the great Norfolk Southern Railway, forming the nation’s first unified transcontinental rail system. President Abraham Lincoln envisioned a railroad extending to the Pacific Ocean, and he chose Omaha as its starting point. UP has been building America ever since, and Nebraska has become a centrally-located national transportation hub along the way. The State of Nebraska looks forward to supporting this tremendous partnership, and we are proud to host America’s First Transcontinental Railroad.”

“The Greater Omaha Chamber extends its congratulations to Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern on this historic announcement—uniting their networks to create America’s first coast-to-coast railroad. This landmark achievement honors the very spirit upon which our nation’s railroads were founded: to connect a growing country through infrastructure, innovation, and purpose. Railroads were built in America to bring people, communities, and commerce together—and this new transcontinental network is the embodiment of this dream. This partnership will strengthen domestic supply chains, open new markets, and reinforce our nation’s global competitiveness.”

“We are especially proud that Union Pacific Railroad, one of the most iconic names in American industry, continues to call Omaha, Nebraska home. Their leadership in reshaping the future of freight transportation reinforces our region’s central role in building a more connected and prosperous nation. The Chamber and business community looks forward to supporting this new rail partnership that will deliver for generations to come.”

"Union Pacific is an engine for growth in Nebraska. Consolidating another railroad company’s headquarters at the Union Pacific headquarters in Omaha will benefit our state even more. This has the potential to create jobs, increase wages, and streamline the supply chain. This merger is a great deal for Nebraska and America."

"Headquartered in Omaha and employing over 5,000 Nebraskans, Union Pacific plays a crucial role in our state’s economy. This merger not only has the potential to create many more jobs, but it will also provide seamless transcontinental service. I look forward to seeing the growth that will come to our state as a result of this crucial partnership."

“We would welcome any future employees from the combined railroads to settle in Omaha.”