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[NYT] Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion Railroad Deal

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by Os Trigonum, Jul 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM.

  1. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Member
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    link will work for everyone

    Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion Railroad Deal
    The merger would create the United States’ first coast-to-coast rail network, spanning 50,000 miles and 43 states.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/...e_code=1.aE8.ofzh.4RswnEVJLPcn&smid=url-share

    excerpt:

    Union Pacific, a freight rail giant, announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement to acquire Norfolk Southern, another large railroad, in a deal worth $85 billion.

    The merger would create the United States’ first coast-to-coast rail network and span some 50,000 miles across 43 states. But the deal would put around two-fifths of rail freight in the hands of one company, raising fears that it would reduce competition in a crucial industry.

    Union Pacific, which operates west of the Mississippi River, and Norfolk Southern, whose tracks are mostly east of it, said the combined company would deliver freight faster by eliminating the need to switch railroads and opening new routes.

    “Railroads have been an integral part of building America since the Industrial Revolution, and this transaction is the next step in advancing the industry,” Jim Vena, chief executive of Union Pacific, said in a news release on Tuesday. The new company will be called the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad.

    Union Pacific said it was offering a combination of cash and stock for Norfolk Southern.

    “It will make the railroads more efficient,” said Tony Hatch, a veteran rail analyst at ABH Consulting. “And it adds reliability, which is the biggest rail issue.”

    The combined company would have over 50,000 employees, four-fifths of whom belong to unions.
    more at the link

     
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  2. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Why does it Seem like this will become yet another impediment to the U.S. Getting High Speed Rail

    Rocket River
     
  3. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    I think commercial rail has nothing to do with commuter rail
     
  4. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    I'm pretty sure they use the same Rails

    Rocket River
     
  5. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    High speed rail in Texas and everywhere will be completely new rail only used by high speed rail. It will have nothing to do with commercial rail or it's tracks.

    Commercial rail doesn't use high speed rail like Metro rail doesn't use those union Pacific tracks

    I
     
  6. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member

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    If you want to travel by train now yes, if you want to travel on 'high speed rail' that will be on a totally different set of tracks.
     
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  7. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Member
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    if I'm not mistaken, there are still freight trains operating by trackage rights in the northeast corridor from Boston to Washington DC. Not exactly European high speed rail, but what passes for high speed in the U.S.
     
  8. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Yea
    Which is why I think since these people are building a monopoly
    they not going to be interested in that High Speed Rail infrastructure investment

    Rocket River
     
  9. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    High speed rail has nothing to do with their business other than both are trains. . They will not lose any to commuter rail they have no incentive to.stop high speed rail
     
  10. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Just like it has nothing to do with Southwest Airlines
    but Southwest still blocks it

    Rocket River
     
  11. ThatBoyNick

    ThatBoyNick Member

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    Last time I rode a train it was on your mom
     
  12. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    Southwest airlines is a commuter service , if you can ride a train to Dallas as fast as flying, southwest will lose business.

    Union Pacific won't lose any business to a high speed rail.
     
  13. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    @Rocket River

    Southwest Airlines is probably the number one airline in flights from Houston to Dallas. Yes they don't want high speed rail.

    Union Pacific doesn't commute anyone anywhere except it's workers
     

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