A merger worth $85 billion has lost support of two unions representing more than half of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s workers, the Associated Press reports.
Major concerns include safety and jobs, but also a rise in shipping rates and consumer prices.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division are two of the most prominent critics of what would be the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
The American Chemistry Council, an assortment of agricultural groups and competing railroad BNSF, have also all raised concerns about the merger hurting competition.
The merger has the support of President Donald Trump and SMART-TD, the nation’s largest railroad union that represents conductors and other rail workers.
The formal application for the merger is expected to be filed later this week. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board will then make a decision.
