Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to Create America’s First Transcontinental Railroad

The Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad will connect people, strengthen communities, and build a stronger, more competitive America. Both railroads envision every union employee who wants a job in the combined company will have one.

Together, the companies aim to be the safest railroad in North America and deliver the service customers rely on with operational excellence. The combined company will deliver faster, more comprehensive freight service to U.S. shippers by eliminating interchange delays, opening new routes, expanding intermodal services, and reducing distance and transit time on key rail corridors. A more truck-competitive solution, the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad will decrease highway congestion, reducing wear-and-tear on taxpayer-funded roads. Today, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern invest approximately $5.6 billion annually in infrastructure, innovation, and network expansion.

“Norfolk Southern, like Union Pacific, is a railroad integral to the U.S. economy, with a storied 200-year legacy of serving customers across 22 states in the eastern half of the nation,” said Mark George, CEO of Norfolk Southern. “Our safety, network, and financial performance is among the best we’ve had as a company, as is our customer satisfaction. And it is from this position of strength that we embark on this transformational combination. We are confident that the power of Norfolk Southern’s franchise, diversified solutions, high-quality customers and partners, as well as skilled employees, will contribute meaningfully to America’s first transcontinental railroad, and to igniting rail’s ability to deliver for the whole American economy today and into the future. Union Pacific is a true partner that shares our belief in rail’s ability to deliver for all stakeholders simultaneously, and we are excited for our future together.”

“This combination is transformational, enhancing the best freight transportation system in the world – it’s a win for the American economy, it’s a win for our customers, and it’s a win for our people,” Vena said. “It builds on President Abraham Lincoln’s vision of a transcontinental railroad from nearly 165 years ago and advances our Safety, Service and Operational Excellence Strategy. I am confident this historic transaction will enhance competition to benefit customers, communities, and employees while delivering shareholder value.”

Delivering Benefits to All Stakeholders

By opening new routes and expanding access for customers, the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad will unlock opportunities for faster, more reliable transit times and provide a more seamless customer experience.

For America

• Enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. freight. U.S. freight railroads move approximately 1.5 billion tons of material and goods every year. The transcontinental railroad will compete more effectively with Canadian railroads to win back U.S. freight volume and American jobs.
• Strengthening our nation and economy. The combination will unlock rail options for shippers in regions where railroad connections are less efficient, such as the Ohio Valley and on both sides of the Mississippi River (“Watershed” markets), creating a more accessible, sustainable, and lower-cost supply chain for manufacturers and consumers.
• Helping U.S. industry feed and power the world. With access to 10 international interchanges and approximately 100 ports, the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad will unlock strong international trade routes and offer greater access to U.S.-made goods.

For Safety

• Safety is the top priority for Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. The combined company’s focus will remain on ensuring every employee goes home safe to their families and protecting the communities where it operates.
• Improving safety through technology. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s proven technologies will further advance the ability to predict in-train forces and quickly assess potential mechanical and track defects.

For Service

• Customers will benefit from seamless, single-line service across the country. The combination will improve transit times, removing several days by eliminating car touches and interchanges where rail cars are handed off.
• Enhancing the rail experience and ease of doing business. Customers will have the ability to quickly receive single-line rate quotes with one system to track freight, enabling real-time decisions that optimize supply chains.
• Greater partnership with short lines and U.S. ports. Short lines and their shippers will have access to a unified rail network with a single Class I interface, new services, and reduced gateway delays. U.S. ports served by the transcontinental railroad will have expanded reach and faster access to new markets.

For the Workforce

• Protecting and expanding opportunities for employees and local economies. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern union employees – including train crew, mechanical and engineering – will have job opportunities with the combined company. Beyond job security, expected rail volume growth will drive additional employment opportunities in towns and cities across the combined rail network. Non-union workers will have opportunities to grow as part of a larger, combined enterprise.
• Preserving the best-paid industrial careers in America. Railroad employees are among the most highly compensated workers across U.S. industries. They also receive a generous retirement that exceeds other workers in the private sector, as well as top tier health care benefits.

For Communities

• Investing in safe, resilient, and vibrant communities. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern invested $300 million in philanthropic giving from 2020 to 2025, supporting workforce development, safety initiatives, and vibrant spaces where people want to live and work.
• Our goal is simple: zero incidents involving trains, pedestrians, drivers, or employees. In addition to Operation Lifesaver programs, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern trained over 10,000 first responders in 2024.

For Shareholders

• Realizing significant shareholder value. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern shareholders are expected to realize significant value from the transaction, including more than $30 billion of potential value creation through the expected achievement of approximately $2.75 billion in annualized synergy opportunity.

Path to Completion

Creating the Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad is overwhelmingly in the public interest and will enhance competition, consistent with the test that will be applied in the review of the transaction by the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

The companies expect to file their application with the STB within six months, in which the companies will describe how the combined rail network will provide safer, faster, and more reliable service and increased competition to a broad range of stakeholders.

The Board of Directors of both Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern unanimously approved the transaction, which is subject to STB review and approval within its statutory timeline, customary closing conditions, and shareholder approval. The companies are targeting closing the transaction by early 2027.

Transaction Details and Financial Impact

Under the terms of the agreement, Norfolk Southern shareholders will receive 1.0 Union Pacific common share and $88.82 in cash for each share of Norfolk Southern. The implied value of $320 per share represents an implied total enterprise value for Norfolk Southern of $85 billion based on Union Pacific’s unaffected closing stock price on July 16, 2025^[1]. Union Pacific will issue a total of approximately 225 million shares to Norfolk Southern shareholders, representing 27% ownership in the combined company on a fully diluted basis, and providing the ability of Norfolk Southern shareholders to participate in the upside of the combined company’s growth opportunities and synergies.  The agreement is structured without a voting trust and includes a $2.5 billion reverse termination fee.

The cash portion of the transaction will be funded through a combination of new debt and balance sheet cash.  At closing, the combined business will have a strong balance sheet and Debt to EBITDA of approximately 3.3x, supporting a balanced capital allocation strategy. The combined company will continue to prioritize and maintain a strong balance sheet and investment grade rating.

Based on 2024 results, the pro-forma combined company would have revenues of approximately $36 billion, EBITDA of approximately $18 billion, operating ratio of 62%, and free cash flow of $7 billion. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Union Pacific’s adjusted EPS per share in the second full year after closing and rising to high single digit accretion thereafter.

Leadership and Governance

Jim Vena, Union Pacific CEO, will lead the combined company as Chief Executive Officer and has committed his intent to remain at Union Pacific for at least the next 5 years.  Through integration and beyond, talented leaders from both companies will work together to deliver on the combination’s full value creation potential. The experienced Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern management teams will continue to independently run each company until the transaction’s closing.  At closing, three Norfolk Southern Directors, including Mark George and Richard Anderson, are expected to join the Union Pacific Board of Directors after completing the corporate governance process.

The combined company will be headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Atlanta, Georgia will remain a core location for the combined organization over the long-term with a focus on technology, operations, and innovation, among other priorities.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo are serving as financial advisors to Union Pacific. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor to Union Pacific on the acquisition, with Covington & Burling LLP providing legal advice on regulatory matters. BofA Securities is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Norfolk Southern. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal advisor to Norfolk Southern, with Sidley Austin LLP providing legal advice on regulatory matters.