US regulators pause UP-NS rail merger, demand more data amid competition concerns

The US Surface Transportation Board (STB) has halted the review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), requiring them to provide more detailed information. Canadian National Railway (CN) supports this decision, highlighting that UP and NS have not met the heightened standards for competition and public interest. The STB criticized the merger application for lacking clarity, insufficient market analysis, and inadequate remedies to address competitive harms. This pause ensures a thorough review before any approval, reflecting concerns about the merger's potential to concentrate control over 40% of US freight rail traffic and impact shippers negatively.