Commentary

TD Cowen Railroad Roundtable: Soft Demand Amid Imminent Industry Transformation

Panelists at our recent Railroad Roundtable projected weak demand for 2026. Tightening truckload capacity is encouraging but not impacting rates enough yet to gain confidence in rail pricing cycle. The Union Pacific/Norfolk

Commentary

Will NMB, NTSB, STB Stay Independent?

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE: It’s called “unitary executive theory.” It asserts the Constitution’s Article II provides for one executive, the President, and others may not wield substantial executive power

Commentary

Mamdani: Popular, Different—Perhaps a Transit Advocate?

He’s only 34 and has boundless energy to prove it. He was a member of the State Assembly from Queens who came out of nowhere to become New York City’s 112th mayor.

Commentary

Midtec’s Demise; Competition’s Rise

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced Jan. 7 a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)—Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Competition: Review of Part 1144, Docket Ex Parte No. 788—which, if finalized following public

Tom G. Williams (Courtesy of BNSF)
Commentary

UP-NS Merger Application Filed: What it Means for BNSF Customers

Dear Customers: As I shared, Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) filed their merger application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, as we headed into the holiday.

Commentary

Leading Through Uncertainty

Part 3 in a Series: Lead Yourself First, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE: In Part 1 of this series, I shared how rail leaders who are positive deviants in the industry navigate

Commentary

Former Rail Executive: UP-NS Deal Likely to Get Done & Other Views

We hosted a former Class I CEO to review the recent Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application. He sees a very strong filing with acceptance likely though not until 2027. The CGP (Committed

Commentary

Merging Lines – First Take on UP-NS Application

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s growth-oriented merger argument remains sound, but the bid-ask spread on competitive concessions remains unknown until the rails respond. Downstream, we view today’s filing as constructive for domestic

Commentary

How Railroads Can Deliver What Congress Promised: Better Infrastructure

When Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Americans were promised modernization of the country’s transportation network. Roads, bridges, ports, and supply chains were all supposed to emerge faster, stronger, and more competitive.  Several years

Commentary

UP, NS Deliver 6,700-Page ‘Christmas Present’

’Twas one week before Christmas, and all through the land, rail stakeholders were stirring, as Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern dealt their merger hand.

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