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Arlington, VA |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Susannah Williams swilliams@acd-chem.com |
Arlington, VA –Today, in response to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) accepting the amended merger application submitted by Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), Alliance for Chemical Distribution President and CEO Eric R. Byer issued the following statement warning against approval of the merger:
“Today’s decision by the STB to accept the UP-NS mega-merger application does not resolve the serious concerns that have persisted since the merger was first announced. An application can meet procedural requirements while still threatening competition, service reliability, and the interests of shippers and consumers. STB’s request for additional information underscores the continued lack of transparency and calls into question the completeness and credibility of the entire proposal.
“As the STB conducts its full review, it must carefully examine the facts and the real-world impact this consolidation would have on freight customers, supply chains, and the broader economy. The American public already recognizes those risks. Polling found that nearly 71% of Americans oppose the merger after learning about its potential impacts, while just 20% support it. Shippers, consumers, and communities across the country understand that less competition in the freight rail system means higher costs, fewer options, and greater supply chain instability. The STB should follow the evidence and reject this merger.”
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