July 28, 2025
NS has informed ATDA that it has reached an agreement to merge with UP
7/29/2025 UPDATE: NS Vice President of Labor Relations Wai Wong informed ATDA President Ed Dowell early this morning that an agreement has been reached for a merger between NS and Union Pacific (UP).
Cleveland, Ohio – In response to recent media reports surrounding potential East-West transcontinental mergers among Class I railroads, the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) is actively monitoring developments and assessing potential impacts on its members. While the Organization has not received additional information from any carriers beyond what has been publicly reported, it is taking proactive steps to analyze how any such mergers could affect its members on these roads.
“The Organization believes that any further consolidation of Class I railroads could not only have a negative impact on our members and their families, but also on the nation’s supply chains and rail infrastructure,” said ATDA President Ed Dowell. “We’ve seen the consequences of mergers before, from the system meltdown following the Conrail split to the prolonged disruptions that resulted from the Union Pacific–Southern Pacific merger. The recent CPKC merger has come with its own set of problems as well, and many of those issues remain ongoing. There is no reason to believe this time will be different.”
Due to the fluidity of the situation, ATDA is preparing for the potential outcomes and will continue to advocate for the interests of its members throughout this process. The Organization will provide timely updates as more information becomes available, including holding meetings with potentially impacted members.
