In March 2026, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena addressed hundreds of shippers at the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers meeting to highlight the benefits of the Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger. Vena talked about the unprecedented promise we made that every union employee with a job at the time of the merger will have a job for life. No other railroad has made that promise. He also repeatedly stated how important it is to talk with customers and include them every step of the way and he emphasized that our opposition is afraid to compete.
Vena is known for being a dynamic speaker. Following his remarks at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, Trains described the meeting as the “Vena Comedy Club,” while Progressive Railroading highlighted his “off-the-cuff comments” at IANA.
Let us be clear: Union Pacific does not retaliate against customers. A customer’s position on the merger will not determine its rates or how we deliver service. Customers should participate freely and candidly in the Surface Transportation Board’s review. We also welcome direct dialogue with our customers. Their perspectives matter to us. In fact, Union Pacific’s Customer Advisory Board was recently in Omaha to discuss integration.
We are deeply disappointed that anyone in our industry would draw a connection between an offhand comment at an industry conference to a bomb threat in an airport. That comparison crosses a line and we strongly disagree. Personal emotions need to be put aside so we can focus on the facts.
The fact is there are more than 1,000 participants in the merger proceeding. Of those, more than 500 are customers who support the merger and represent more than 30% of Union Pacific’s volume. We continue to work with customers to discuss the benefits and welcome tough questions. Since the merger announcement, Vena has met with hundreds of customers and spoken at dozens of events with thousands of customers, shippers, suppliers and analysts in attendance. Just this summer, he wrote a letter directly to Union Pacific’s Top 50 customers, offering a personal conversation to answer any questions.
Our merger with Norfolk Southern is about the future of the rail industry. This is a chance to move America forward, help our customers better compete in global markets and allow rail to compete more effectively against trucks so our customers can grow and win. That is where this debate belongs: on the merits of the merger and what it will mean for customers, competition and the future of American freight rail.