Norfolk Southern reports Q2 2025 earnings with $3.1B revenue, 62.2% operating ratio, and confirms historic $85B merger talks with Union Pacific to create transcontinental railroad.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern confirmed that they are in “advanced” merger talks that would create a single U.S railroad with service stretching from the East to the West Coast. The Associated Press reported last week that the companies were discussing a tie-up but neither company acknowledged that until Thursday morning.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, US — Union Pacific Corp. has agreed to acquire Norfolk Southern Corp. for $85 billion, a merger that would unite two of North America’s Class I freight railroads and major US-based grain shippers to create the country’s first transcontinental railroad.