Heard from a reliable source UP is going to buy us and heads are going to roll
18 replies (most recent on top)
I agree with the previous comments on the effects of the merger. East-West merger has been discussed for years the difference now is PSR and management controlled by the hedge funds.
PSR can't grow business, have to expand by mergers and the RR are at that point in their business model.
NS is lead by weak Management, non RR with no history or loyalty to NS.
Fishwick, Goode or Moorman would never allow this takeover by UP.
Just saying.
Listen there will most def be additional streamlining with a merger... The acquired company sees the brunt of it. The NS Corporate c suite will exit with golden umbrellas and everyone below them will be assessed for their value going fwd. The yards...They will inherit and employ automation with drones, autonomous vehicles for transport, security, predictive AI for maintenance.
@df, Business management at NS will definitely take a hit, but below them will also. NS IT, marketing, finance, etc. will all take massive hits. IT already just did and that's probably not a coincidence. UP is twice the size of NS. They have their own set of applications and won't need NS's. They have their own management structure and won't need NS's. They have their own finance teams and won't need NS's. To be honest, UP isn't buying the company, they're buying the lines.
Yard and field folks will probably do better than most. Because you'll still need those folks to keep the engines, trains, yards, and rail lines working. So those folks shouldn't be hurt by the merger. They'll get hurt by AI and automation. (Which is already underway.)
All that said, it won't be immediate. Think in terms of years. Feds probably will take a year or more just to approve the merger. Then a few more to re-org and consolidate back-office operations. It'll be gradual.
Analyst are predicting at least 7000 layoffs between the two companies upon merging.
Very few NS bosses will be retained.
@ve I’m just here for the free stuff. I love using my NS credit card for free food and electronics! They’re to stupid to figure it out.
@be Jenks is a modern well built shop. They would probably keep both.
If you see the UP layoff report they say the same thing. Heads are going to roll and shop’s closing. Managers are going to get cut. It will be a disaster. Especially with little Jimbo running the company. You think you have it bad now just wait. I left after 20yrs. UP is a horrible place to work. So combine the two worst companies to work for in one, going to be a he-l of a ride.
Looks like mass consolidations to begin 2026. Conway and Enola will not survive do to their substandard production. A majority of overhauls and scheduled PMs will be conducted in UP facilities. Unions are on board and ready to assist with mass consolidations. Both sides have been in talks since the 1st qtr of 2025.
Compared to Bellevue they were lucky
How do you figure Conway was lucky under NS? They shut down half the yard by closing the eastbound hump. Maybe UP will finish the job.
This may be the time the coast to coast merger goes through. The Trump government agencies will approve a merger and NS management is weak and no pride in keeping NS alive .HEDGEFUNDS calling the shots.
The operating plan can't grow business, only option is merger, CN tried this before with Harrison. There will be major cuts ,mostly on NS,Atlanta Headquarters gone along with most departments merged into UP.
UP ranks as the #1 worst company to work for, NS #20
Just saying.
Conway don't be so sure of yourself. With a new company regime taking over this is how it goes. They will tell you what you want to hear to keep operations flowing normal. Meanwhile headquarters will be telling you what good work you do there. In a back room CEO'S are looking at reducing costs and consolidating. Norfolk Southern personal, equipment, and facilities will be looked at scrutinized for need, chopped up, sold off, or shuddered. Union Pacific is not going to close anything in their legacy footprint. They will however close the Norfolk Southern footprint. Conway you may have been lucky with NS. There are no guarentees with UP. NO facility is to important for that work to be moved somewhere else. Experience, dedication, and hard work means nothing in modern rairoading to CEO'S. Stock price does.
New company headquarters will remain in Omaha. Atlanta will be closed with many management jobs lost.
@OP Norfolk Southern CEO's are all two faced liars. 1999 they stood at the Conrail heavy locomotive repair shop in Altoona
PA and said it would remain and grow the shop. 1100 worked there at the time. 350 at the Hollidaysburg PA over mile long car shop where my father worked. They stuck a kn--e in this area and twisted it. About 150 left. Many generations of railroaders in my family gone along with the industry. Living near the Horseshoe Curve seeing those black locomotives makes me puke. My city Altoona PA is dying a slow death. Norfolk Southern did us no favors. Employees better grab a winter coat moving to Omaha NB. Atlanta better get used to seeing yellow locomotives.
If this actually happens would they keep the two biggest shops open juniata and jenks or would they close one?
I would like to nominate a CIDO for this…
Hope your wrong this is the only job I'm capable of doing. My daddy worked here and his daddy