The Union Pacific transcontinental railroad: Pursuing what’s possible and making it happen

Jim Vena, Union Pacific CEO, has made the following statement on the merger with Norfolk Southern.

Union Pacific signed an agreement to merge with Norfolk Southern and become America’s first transcontinental railroad, creating a coast-to-coast network that will span more than 50,000 miles, serve 43 states from the East Coast to the West Coast, link approximately 100 ports and reach nearly every corner of North America. It will enable us to stay at the forefront of technological advances that continue to fundamentally change how freight moves.

This exciting decision is the next step in our Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy, and puts us in a position to transform America’s supply chain, unleashing the industrial strength of this nation and spurring a new era of American innovation.

The impact of this agreement cannot be overstated. A single coast-to-coast network will deliver faster, more competitive service by eliminating car touches and interchange delays, opening new routes, expanding intermodal services, and ensuring faster transit times on key rail corridors. We will take even more trucks off highways, decreasing congestion, and reducing wear-and-tear on taxpayer-funded roads.

Imagine seamlessly hauling freight from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Colton, California, and moving tomato paste from Heron, California, to Fremont, Ohio, lumber from the Pacific Northwest, plastics from the Gulf Coast, copper from Arizona and Utah, and soda ash from Wyoming. Today, more than 40,000 Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern union employees are moving nearly all the goods essential to our daily lives.

Realizing the promise of the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad will not be easy, and we will need our people. It is our expectation that the combination will lead to job growth and it is our intention to preserve Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern union jobs.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are two of the strongest-operating railroads, with a combined 360 years of history. The Norfolk Southern team is known as the Thoroughbreds with a history that dates to 1827—35 years older than Union Pacific. Their team has been on a solid trajectory of delivering strong results. I am honored and excited that if approved, the Thoroughbreds will join us in Building America becoming a part of Union Pacific.

To the Norfolk Southern employees reading this – I have been a railroader my entire life – working my way up from union brakeman to conductor, to locomotive engineer, trainmaster and superintendent. When I advanced to management roles in operating and marketing, becoming a COO and ultimately CEO, I never forgot where I came from, who I am, or who we are as railroaders.

Our jobs require sacrifices and tough decisions that impact not only us, but the families supporting us. I make the same commitment to you I made to our Union Pacific team when I returned two years ago: You can count on me to be honest, frank and thoughtful. That’s who I am. I will ask a lot of you, and I will demand even more from myself. I respect and value your legacy and contributions.

Our great companies have deep roots in spurring the industrial revolution of the past and, I’m being straight with you when I say, there is no better combination of railroads to finalize President Abraham Lincoln’s original vision to create a transcontinental railroad.

I know everyone has many questions about what will happen, how and when. Right now, it is business as usual. We cannot lose focus on our commitment to be the best at safety and deliver the high level of service we sold our customers. We delivered industry-leading results and are setting new standards across the board. Your efforts have put us in a leading position to make what many thought was impossible, possible.

In the coming months, we will submit a formal merger application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB). While the STB reviews our application, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will continue to operate as separate companies. Importantly, every employee must adhere to the antitrust guidance rules for employees and not engage in any conversations or business activities contrary to these rules.

Remain focused on delivering what we can control with safety, service and operational excellence. Thank you for your hard work. I am very excited about the journey ahead.