---
title: "FACTBOX-Major rail mergers that reshaped the US freight network"
description: "Union Pacific plans to acquire Norfolk Southern for $85 billion, creating the first coast-to-coast freight rail operator in the U.S. This merger follows a history of significant rail consolidations th"
type: "news"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/250578094.md"
published_at: "2025-07-29T11:17:07.000Z"
---

# FACTBOX-Major rail mergers that reshaped the US freight network

> Union Pacific plans to acquire Norfolk Southern for $85 billion, creating the first coast-to-coast freight rail operator in the U.S. This merger follows a history of significant rail consolidations that have reshaped the freight network, often facing scrutiny from regulators. Notable past mergers include Burlington Northern & Santa Fe in 1995, Union Pacific & Southern Pacific in 1996, and CSX & Norfolk Southern's acquisition of Conrail in 1998. The landscape of U.S. railroads has been marked by both operational efficiencies and regulatory challenges.

(Updates with latest developments)

July 29 (Reuters) -

Union Pacific (UNP.N) said on Tuesday it would

buy

smaller rival Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) in an $85-billion deal to create the country’s first coast-to-coast freight rail operator.

Such mergers have historically reshaped the rail map, consolidating regional carriers into some dominant networks, but often come under intense scrutiny from the Surface Transportation Board.

Landmark mergers in the past - such as the creation of BNSF and between Union Pacific and Southern Pacific - have set the stage for today’s concentrated rail network, often triggering both operational gains and regulatory pushback.

Here are some of the largest railroad deals in the past three decades:

Year Merger Deal value Note

1995 Burlington Northern & $4.1 Created one of the

Santa Fe billion largest U.S.

railroads at the

time

1996 Union Pacific & $5.4 The merger caused

Southern Pacific billion significant

operational

problems and

shipping delays

that led to tougher

regulatory

standards

1998 CSX & Norfolk Southern $10.2 Conrail was split

split Conrail billion between CSX and

Norfolk Southern in

a joint acquisition

2023 Canadian Pacific & $31 billion First single-line

Kansas City Southern railroad linking

the U.S., Canada

and Mexico

2025 Union Pacific & First

Norfolk Southern $85 billion coast-to-coast

freight rail

operator

### Related Stocks

- [NSC.US - Norfolk Southern](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NSC.US.md)
- [UNP.US - Union Pacific](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/UNP.US.md)

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> **Disclaimer**: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.