The Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Combination Protects Passenger Rail Commitments and Creates Room to Grow
Every existing agreement, legal commitment and service obligation to Amtrak and commuter rail agencies carries forward without change, creating a stable foundation for continued passenger rail coordination and future growth opportunities. And for the first time, a transcontinental freight network operating with fewer interchanges will relieve pressure on corridors where freight and passenger rail share track.
What Stays the Same
A route-by-route analysis of projected post-merger growth confirmed that there is sufficient capacity across the combined network to continue fulfilling service commitments to every passenger service, including Amtrak and commuter agencies. The combined company will maintain dedicated systems for passenger rail coordination, including Union Pacific’s 24/7 passenger operations desk, which provides direct, ongoing communication with passenger agencies and conducts regular performance reviews.
Amtrak agreements unchanged
All existing legal commitments, preference rights and on-time obligations carry forward without modification.
Capacity confirmed by analysis
Route-by-route review verified sufficient network capacity to meet all Amtrak and commuter rail service commitments.
7.5 million Amtrak miles annually
Amtrak trains travel approximately 7.5 million miles across the combined network each year — a relationship that will continue.
24/7 passenger operations desk
Union Pacific’s dedicated passenger coordination desk — providing direct, real-time communication with passenger agencies — carries into the combined company.
Chicago Gets Better for Everyone
A National Track Record of Enabling Passenger Services
ILLINOIS
High-Speed Rail, Chicago to St. Louis
Union Pacific was a key partner in the project delivering high-speed passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis, which launched in 2023.
VIRGINIA
Virginia Passenger Rail Expansion
Norfolk Southern is partnering with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to expand passenger service across the Commonwealth, including a new segment from Roanoke to Christiansburg with two planned daily frequencies.
MISSOURI
Missouri River Runner
Union Pacific and Amtrak partnered on multiple projects enhancing Kansas City to St. Louis service, including an $8 million, 9,000-foot passing loop to improve performance.
PENNSYLVANIA
Western Pennsylvania Expansion
Norfolk Southern and PennDOT entered a 2023 agreement to double Amtrak’s service between New York City and Pittsburgh.
COLORADO
Mountain Passenger Service
Union Pacific and the State of Colorado signed a 25-year lease in May 2025 supporting expanded passenger rail service, paving the way for regular service from Denver to several mountain communities.
NORTH CAROLINA
Red Line Commuter Rail, Charlotte
Norfolk Southern sold 22 miles of track to the City of Charlotte in 2024 — enabling the development of a new Red Line commuter rail service connecting uptown Charlotte to northern Mecklenburg County.
LOUISIANA AND ALABAMA
Mardi Gras Corridor Service
Norfolk Southern and CSX partnered with Amtrak to introduce twice-daily Mardi Gras Corridor service between New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama.
CALIFORNIA
World Cup Service
Union Pacific is working with California commuter rail partners to support service adjustments tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Supporting Future Passenger Rail Opportunities
Infrastructure Investment Benefits All Users
“Once new train and blocking plans are in place, customers of both railroads will experience faster, more reliable service on shipments across mid-continent gateways, which translates into lower customer inventory costs and savings in equipment ownership costs. [The Applicants] will safely provide faster, more reliable, more efficient services than UP and NS can offer today as independent companies and will provide new truck-competitive services where competitive rail options do not exist today. Applicants will be able to generate significant operating efficiencies while accommodating the traffic growth anticipated from the merger and without adversely affecting customer service or the operations of other freight and passenger railroads.”
- Eric Gehringer
EVP-Operations, Union Pacific
- John Orr
EVP & COO, Norfolk Southern — Joint Statement to the STB
FAQ
No. The combination will not change the agreements or laws governing the relationship with Amtrak — including Amtrak’s preference rights and the railroad’s on-time commitments. A route-by-route analysis confirmed sufficient network capacity to fulfill all existing service commitments to Amtrak and commuter agencies. Those commitments will carry forward unchanged.
New streamlined freight routes that bypass Chicago interchanges will reduce freight traffic on busy Chicago-area corridors shared with Amtrak and commuter services. That reduction creates additional operational capacity for passenger rail, directly benefiting Chicago-area commuter lines and intercity Amtrak services that operate on those shared corridors today.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern reinvest approximately $5.6 billion annually in American rail infrastructure — track, signals and capacity improvements that serve freight and passenger services on the same network. The combined company, investing as one unified system, will direct capital more efficiently to improvements that benefit all users, including the Amtrak and commuter services that operate on shared corridors.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern already partner with passenger agencies, states and federal programs across multiple corridors nationwide. The combined network will continue coordinating with public-sector partners evaluating future passenger rail opportunities, while maintaining all existing passenger rail commitments and operational obligations.
