The Union Pacific Norfolk Southern Combination: Safer Rail Service Across a Connected America
.jpg)
The combined company will build on that progress with a unified safety integration plan developed with FRA input and submitted to the Surface Transportation Board. Bringing together two strong safety cultures creates the potential to set a new standard for the industry.
UNION PACIFIC
24%
Improvement in reportable personal injury rate in
2025.
NORFOLK SOUTHERN
30%
Improvement in FRA- reportable train accidents in
2025. Advanced detection and prevention
technologies driving results.
A Culture of Safety
In 2024, Union Pacific strengthened this foundation with a safety culture assessment that captured feedback from thousands of front-line employees and translated it into measurable improvements. That same discipline — listening, measuring and improving — will carry into the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern combination, building a stronger, unified safety culture from day one.
AI-Enabled Technology Built for Safer Performance
Union Pacific contributes Physics Train Builder: technology that simulates precisely how a train configuration will perform over real-world terrain before it leaves the yard, positioning rail cars and locomotives for maximum safety and fuel efficiency on every run.
Fewer Handoffs, Fewer Risks
Safest Way to Move Freight on Land
Trained for Every Emergency
Cybersecurity Is Infrastructure Security
“As the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger would bring continued investment to rail infrastructure and bolster public safety directly for our residents, we strongly advocate for this merger. By creating national continuity for the rail system and the emergency responders who vow to protect it, this merger can only serve to strengthen local communities and partnerships with local fire departments like us — a win-win situation.”
— Joseph Zajac
Administrator, West Hazelton Fire Company
FAQ
Safety will always be the number one priority. A safety integration plan was submitted to the STB and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The plan outlines how the new company will combine best practices from each railroad to further enhance the safety benefits for all. For example, safety initiatives like Courage to Care carry into the combined company and expand across the full network.
Single-line service eliminates freight handoffs that create risk at congested interchange points. Removing an estimated 2,400 daily rail car and container handlings reduces potential yard incidents and derailment risk. The combined company will also expand first responder training, emergency grant funding and blocked crossing response programs across the full 43-state network.
A comprehensive safety integration plan was developed in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and submitted to the STB. Operational changes will be phased in through established change management procedures, with advanced digital modeling guiding each transition. Safety, service and operational excellence will remain the top priority throughout.
Yes — and the combined company intends to expand these commitments. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern trained more than 10,000 first responders across 20 cities in 2024. Norfolk Southern's Safety First grant program has provided more than $6.2 million directly to emergency response agencies. Those programs will continue and grow across the combined network.
Single-line service eliminates carrier handoffs, where hazardous materials face the greatest risk of miscommunication and handling errors. End-to-end visibility means one carrier holds accountability throughout. Predictive maintenance technology — including AI-driven wheel integrity systems and acoustic bearing detectors — reduces mechanical failure risk before a train ever leaves the yard.
The industry has been rapidly advancing detection and prevention tools in response to incidents like East Palestine. The combined company will deploy best-in-class technologies across a larger network while continuing to strengthen training and emergency response coordination.
Safety is driven by how trains are built, inspected and operated. There is no data to suggest that safety is impacted by train length. Technologies like advanced train modelling, track monitoring and equipment diagnostics allow railroads to manage those factors safely. At the same time, shifting freight from highway to rail reduces overall risk in the transportation system, since rail remains significantly safer per ton-mile than trucking.
Explore More
