rail

STB Orders UP, NS to Produce 2025 Traffic Data in Merger Case

The Surface Transportation Board on May 12 compelled Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to disclose 2025 rail traffic data as part of discovery proceedings in their pending merger control case. CN had filed a motion in April seeking the information, arguing it was relevant and necessary for a complete regulatory record. The STB rejected UP and NS objections that the request was overly broad and burdensome, finding the 2025 data essential to evaluate merger impacts. The Board determined that traffic tapes, interchange data and reciprocal switching information could support or challenge applicants' claims about competitive effects. The ruling allows CN and other interested parties to access the most recent full-year data prior to the amended application's acceptance in January 2026. Discovery had been limited until that point.