ARLINGTON, Va., May 28, 2026 – Federal transportation regulators have given conditional approval to a major railroad merger application, following established merger guidelines set by the Surface Transportation Board.
The Board announced today it has conditionally approved the revised merger proposal between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Corporation, though the companies must provide additional documentation before final clearance.
Based on the Board’s ruling, both railroad companies have until July 27, 2026, to submit supplementary materials addressing several key areas including competitive improvements, shipper access concerns, service reliability plans, gateway and equipment supply matters, market projections, potential merger consequences, passenger rail considerations, and technical documentation issues. Due to these additional information requirements, regulators have not yet established a timeline for the review process.
The National Grain and Feed Association issued a response to the federal decision:
“As the process moves forward, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) will continue to examine the application and gather feedback and perspectives from its members to help determine what position, if any, it will take in this matter. NGFA has consistently maintained that any agreement must deliver tangible benefits for rail customers and the agricultural supply chain. NGFA looks forward to future engagement with the Surface Transportation Board and the applicants in this matter.”
