National Mediation Board member Deirdre Hamilton. (NMB Photograph)

NMB’s Hamilton Challenges Termination

National Mediation Board (NMB) member and Democrat Deirdre Hamilton has sued to regain her post following her Oct. 14, 2025, firing by POTUS 47—one of many legally questionable independent federal regulatory agency

Commentary

STB Heeds SCOTUS on UP-NS Merger

WATCHING WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE: Call them the “menses horribiles.” They’ve not been kind to the desired wedlock of Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), and worse for UP CEO Jim

A map of Green Eagle Railroad LLC’s proposed 1.335-mile common carrier rail line in Maverick County, Tex., extending from the southern border of the United States and connecting to Union Pacific (UP) at approximately milepost 31 on the Eagle Pass Subdivision. The line is part of parent company PVH’s proposed trade corridor for freight and commercial motor vehicles extending into Mexico. (GER Map)

STB Seeks More Details on Proposed Maverick County, Tex., Line

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Jan. 30 directed Green Eagle Railroad (GER) to provide more information on its proposed construction and operation of a 1.335-mile, double-tracked common carrier rail line in Maverick County, Tex. The line would extend from the U.S.-Mexico border to connect at about milepost 31 of Union Pacific’s (UP) Eagle Pass Subdivision. The goal: to meet transportation demands.

(UP Photograph)

For UP, a ‘Record-Breaking Year’ (UPDATED With TD Cowen Commentary, 1/28)

With an STB merger refiling for the acquisition of Norfolk Southern anticipated “in the coming weeks,” Union Pacific (UP) posted “a record-breaking year and delivered best-ever safety, service, and operating results in

NS on Jan. 22 reported via Facebook: “Chicago [to] New England, now 10 hours faster. East Edge is our newest double-stack intermodal service, replacing a slower, single-stack operation with a modern, high-efficiency connection between Chicago and Ayer, Mass. Built for faster transit times, added capacity, and long-term growth for our customers. Did you catch the first train last week? Our D&H and Conrail heritage units led the way—history pulling the future forward!” (Screen Grab from NS Video)

NS: East Edge Double-Stack Service ‘Built for Growth’

Norfolk Southern (NS) on Jan. 21 reported launching East Edge, a newly cleared double-stack intermodal corridor connecting Chicago and New England. It replaces a single-stack route, reducing transit times by up to

“BNSF operating teams are focused on maintaining positive performance momentum across the network,” the Class I wrote in an online customer notification, dated Jan. 16. (Chart, Courtesy of BNSF)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, NS, CN

BNSF provides an operational performance update. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) generates record scrap metal revenue; and CN’s Material Planning team reaches 1,000-plus days “injury-free.”

STB Rejects UP-NS Merger Application as ‘Incomplete‘

January 16, 2026: In a decision predicted by Railway Age (“Why Not a Merger Timeout?,” Watching Washington, November 2025 issue), the Surface Transportation Board in a unanimous decision rejected, “without prejudice,” the

CN on UP+NS: ‘Show Us Schedule 5.8′ (UPDATED with BNSF, CSX and CPKC Filings)

CN on Jan. 8 filed a motion with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) “to compel additional information in relation to the proposed merger agreement between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS).”

Commentary

Second Try for Kloster to STB

Republican Richard Kloster, whose nomination to an open seat on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) failed to exit the Senate Commerce Committee during the first session of the 119th Congress, has been

Commentary

Easter Eggs Are Dropping. Will They Break?

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE: All industries have “drops.” In the world of the sneaker-head it is the release of the latest Air Jordan basketball shoe. For movies it is

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