US rail merger review paused as regulators demand more data amid competition concerns

The US Surface Transportation Board (STB) has suspended its review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), requiring the companies to provide additional detailed information. The STB and Canadian National Railway (CN) criticized the merger application for lacking credible evidence of competition benefits and public interest improvements. The STB highlighted significant gaps in the submission, including unresolved competitive harms and insufficient corrective measures. This pause ensures the merger cannot proceed until UP and NS meet strict regulatory standards, reflecting concerns about the impact on freight competition and supply chains in the US rail network.