The $85 Billion Bet. Can Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Defy the Graveyard of US Railroad Mergers?
Glenshore Perspectives · Glenshore
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Show Notes
The proposed merger between Union Pacific (CEO Jim Vena) and Norfolk Southern (CEO Mark George) promises to create the first true coast-to-coast U.S. freight railroad since the line was built in 1869.
It aims to eliminate delays at interchange points like Chicago and Memphis. It would cut transit times by 24-48 hours and move freight from trucks back to rail.
But there is a catch.
Every major U.S. railroad merger over the last 30 years has ended in serious operational problems: gridlock, IT failures, service breakdowns, and billions in lost value.
In this episode of Glenshore Perspectives, we look at whether this $85 billion deal can avoid the same fate. This is more than a story about railroads. It is about whether a deal that makes sense on paper can survive contact with operational reality.
This podcast episode is inspired by the article written by Amine Laouedj, Managing Director at Glenshore, available at https://www.glenshore.com/articles/the-85-billion-bet-can-union-pacific-and-norfolk-southern-defy-the-graveyard-of-us-railroad-mergers