rail

CN Challenges UP/NS Merger Application as Incomplete, Urges STB Rejection

Canadian National filed comments with the Surface Transportation Board on May 11, contending that Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern's amended merger application fails to address deficiencies identified by regulators in January. CN said the carriers remedied only one of three critical shortcomings while submitting incomplete competitive analyses. The application lacks consistent market share data and fails to identify points losing Class I carrier options, CN stated. The railroad also criticized the proposed Committed Gateway Pricing program as insufficient, applying to less than 1% of relevant traffic while excluding major traffic categories. CN urged the STB to reject the amended filing, saying it demonstrates disregard for the process and falls short of the higher competitive burden required for Class I mergers.