# Pillen backs Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger in revised filing  
**Published:** 2026-04-30T21:06:27.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-business-leaders-gov-pillen-step-up-support-for-union-pacific-led-merger/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/pillen-backs-union-pacific-norfolk-southern-merger-in-revised-filing

Gov. Jim Pillen joined Nebraska business leaders Thursday in supporting the proposed merger of Omaha-based Union Pacific and Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern as the railroads filed an [amended merger application](https://www.stb.gov/wp-content/uploads/UP-NS-Revised-Major-Merger-Application-April-30-2026-FD-36873.pdf) with federal regulators, according to the [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-business-leaders-gov-pillen-step-up-support-for-union-pacific-led-merger/).

The $85 billion deal would create America's first transcontinental railroad, combining the eastern and western rail networks. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board rejected the companies' initial application in January as incomplete, demanding more detail about competitive impacts and effects on customers.

Pillen said the merger would benefit American farmers by streamlining freight movement across the country. "Farmers operate on tight timelines," Pillen said in a statement. "When crops are ready, they need to move. Today's rail system forces too many shipments through time-consuming, costly handoffs between carriers."

The combined enterprise would exceed $250 billion in value. In their revised application, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern increased estimates of new union jobs to 1,200 by the third year, up from 900 in the original filing. The railroads say the merger could save shippers $3.5 billion annually in lower freight costs and shift approximately 2.1 million trucks off highways onto trains.

The Greater Omaha Chamber and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry both endorsed the merger, emphasizing its potential to strengthen the national freight network and economic competitiveness. "By eliminating costly handoffs between carriers, the combined system would enable faster freight movement and unlock new opportunities for growth across the supply chain," the Omaha Chamber said.

However, opposition has intensified. A newly formed [Stop the Rail Merger Coalition](https://stoptherailmerger.com/) launched Wednesday, uniting competitors, labor groups, and agricultural associations against the deal. The coalition argues the merger would give one railroad control over nearly half of U.S. rail traffic, reducing competition and driving up costs for consumers and manufacturers. A poll commissioned by the coalition found 71 percent of voters oppose the merger after learning about its impacts.

The coalition includes BNSF Railway, CPKC Railway, the Teamsters Rail Conference, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and trade groups representing chemical and agricultural shippers. However, SMART-TD, the nation's largest rail union, supports the merger, citing job protections and stability guarantees.

The Surface Transportation Board must decide whether the deal serves the public interest. If accepted, regulators will spend more than a year analyzing the proposal.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-business-leaders-gov-pillen-step-up-support-for-union-pacific-led-merger/)
- [Surface Transportation Board - Revised Major Merger Application](https://www.stb.gov/wp-content/uploads/UP-NS-Revised-Major-Merger-Application-April-30-2026-FD-36873.pdf)
- [Stop the Rail Merger Coalition - Coalition website](https://stoptherailmerger.com/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-business-leaders-gov-pillen-step-up-support-for-union-pacific-led-merger/.