Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are stepping up efforts to convince regulators to approve their $71.5 billion merger, adding commitments to ensure the deal will provide faster, more reliable service as promised.

The freight railroad companies said Monday their combined railroad would expand committed gateway pricing, offering fixed pricing agreements for twice as many eligible shipments. The companies also committed to grant access to another railroad at certain locations where railroad options would drop as a result of the merger.

The companies said they provided the new commitments alongside supplemental information requested by the Surface Transportation Board. The federal regulator had said in May it needed more information to evaluate the two railroads' revised application for the merger, which has been contested by some customers and rivals who have said it would increase freight prices and hurt competition.

With the filing, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern said they have now completed their responses to the STB's requests for supplemental information. They expect the deal to close in mid-2027 as STB continues its review of their merger application.

Additionally, the companies said they would allow customers to temporarily access alternative rail service if their service were to worsen during the merger integration. Customers would also gain access to a new rate relief process if the merger doesn't provide benefits in a timely manner, the companies said.

Write to Kelly Cloonan at kelly.cloonan@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 27, 2026 17:51 ET (21:51 GMT)

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