India, April 30 -- Union Pacific (UNP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) submitted an amended merger application to the Surface Transportation Board seeking approval to create America's first transcontinental railroad. The deeper analysis confirmed the merger will make rail significantly more competitive with long-haul trucking, taking approximately 2.1 million trucks off the road. Shifting freight from higher-cost trucks to low-cost rail will save shippers an estimated $3.5 billion annually.
Also, the amended application confirms the merger will preserve customer access to competitive railroad alternatives. The amended application increases the anticipated number of new premium intermodal lanes operating seven days a week from six to seven, with...