Greater risk of toxic derailments if $85bn railroad merger is approved, warn unions

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Mon 25 Aug 2025 07.00 EDT
Last modified on Mon 25 Aug 2025 07.02 EDT


A proposed mega-merger of two of the largest railroad companies in the US will hurt jobs, raise costs for consumers and increase the risk of more catastrophic train crashes, according to workers and unions.

Union Pacific proposed a $85bn deal to buy Norfolk Southern last month, which would create the first transcontinental railroad network in the US.

As executives at Union Pacific seek approval from federal regulators the Surface Transportation Board, union leaders warn the deal heightens fears around safety – two years after the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, resulted in the release of plumes of toxic chemicals.

“The entirety of the workers” is against the merger, claimed John Samuelsen, the president of the Transport Workers Union. “We’re hoping that the stakeholders in DC that are making determinations are going to listen and understand that when something like East Palestine happens, the chances of that happening under a mammothly merged new entity become greater and greater,” he said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/25/union-pacific-norfolk-southern-railroad-merger

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143498315
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143503666

[Puppyjive]

1. I was a railroader

This is a horrible idea. This is nothing short of a monopoly. My son works for the railroad now and I worry about him all the time. It's not the same job it was when I worked out there. They don't train enough, don't provide for adequate rest, and can't seem to understand that people need a day off. These trains are ticking time bombs going thru your towns when crews are fatigued, not rested and never get time off. They want to run trains with one person at the controls. Trust me, know one wants this except greedy executives.

[popsdenver]

2. How about

Tesla type Trains with no conductors or engineers, and Planes with no pilots or co-pilots......what could possibly go wrong????????

[Puppyjive]

3. I remember

I had taken a day off work due to morning sickness. Had I shown up for work that day, I would have found the conductor laying there without one arm. It happened shortly after they replaced the engineer with a remote controlled box.