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12 August 2026

Mega rail deal under fire: 7 State AGs warn UP-NS merger could drive up shipping costs

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Source reporting: FreightWaves

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Mega rail deal under fire: 7 State AGs warn UP-NS merger could drive up shipping costs

A coalition of seven Republican state attorneys general is urging the Surface Transportation Board to reject Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern, arguing that the railroads have not shown the transaction would serve the public interest or strengthen rail-to-rail competition. In a letter entered into the STB’s public record Aug. 11, the attorneys general said the railroads’ revised application – supplemented in July – relies on a proposed pricing remedy that would preserve only a narrow slice of existing competitive options while potentially raising rates for shippers. States challenge pricing proposal The letter was signed by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, joined by Brenna Bird of Iowa, Kris Kobach of Kansas, James Uthmeier of Florida, Drew Wrigley of North Dakota, Marty Jackley of South Dakota and Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee. It’s the third such filing seeking to kill the proposal to create the first U.

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