By Jim Ross, The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, along with attorneys general from Georgia and Nebraska, this week submitted a letter to the federal Surface Transportation Board endorsing the proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern Railway by Union Pacific.
It’s been a week that saw Norfolk Southern competitor CSX begin coast-to-coast intermodal service with UP competitor BNSF, and it saw CSX and others object to Union Pacific’s request to shorten the comment period on its application to acquire NS.
Endorsement
The letter signed by McCuskey and the two attorneys general was submitted Thursday, Nov. 20.
“The merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will only further strengthen the efficiency, reliability, and effectiveness of our freight rail system,” the letter says.
Later it adds, “By eliminating car touches and interchange delays, even more freight will be moved faster than ever and at a lower cost. The resulting synergies and efficiency gains will also allow for the opening of new routes and an expansion of intermodal services.”
The letter also cites President Donald Trump’s reaction when he heard about the merger: “sounds good to me.”
Image by Jim Ross, HD Media
