Rail merger ‘not good for our industry,’ says BNSF CEO

2026-03-25 19:22:04

BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer has expressed strong opposition to the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, stating it would be detrimental to the rail industry by reducing options, raising rates, and failing to improve efficiencies. She highlighted that historical data contradicts UP’s growth projections and questioned how an $85 billion merger with a premium would be paid for if growth didn’t materialize, potentially burdening shippers. Farmer also noted significant opposition from customers and congressional members, emphasizing that the merger, if approved, would be the first reviewed under new, more stringent public interest and competition enhancement rules.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.