NEARBY: Merger Will Increase Rail Traffic In Lower Bucks County, Lawmakers Say

Two area lawmakers are calling on federal regulators to halt consideration of a proposed $85 billion transcontinental rail merger until environmental and safety evaluations can be completed.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and state Rep. Jim Prokopiak, both Democrats, submitted comments to the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Monday, according to a joint statement.

They are asking the federal Surface Transportation Board to pause consideration of the merits of Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern. Santarsiero and Prokopiak want a full environmental review and have raised questions about safety, infrastructure, and federal oversight.

The STB has authority over the proposed merger and is conducting an environmental review through its Office of Environmental Analysis.

Pennsylvania regulators do not have the authority to approve or reject the proposed merger, as that authority rests with federal authorities.

The regulatory board said in August that the environmental review would include preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under federal environmental laws.

The proposed combination of the railroads was announced in July 2025.

If approved, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would form a single rail system covering approximately 50,000 miles across 43 states, according to the STB.

The companies said Tuesday that the merger would preserve union jobs, lower costs for cross-country transportation and reduce handoffs that can slow shipments. They also said competitors would have to “up their game and compete at a higher level.”

In Bucks County, Santarsiero and Prokopiak are focused on the Morrisville Line and the Morrisville rail facilities.

Based on an STB map, the portion of the Morrisville Line running through Falls Township exceeds the board’s threshold requiring an air-quality analysis, according to the lawmakers. They added that they are also concerned about potential effects on other municipalities in their district served by Norfolk Southern lines that do not exceed the threshold.

Projections submitted by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern show that by the fifth year after the transaction, freight volume on the Morrisville Line would increase 51.1 percent, from 221.85 million to 335.10 million gross ton-miles.

Truck traffic tied to the Morrisville Intermodal Terminal on Cabot Boulevard is projected to rise by 105 trucks per day, from about 322 to 427.

Annual hazardous-material loads on the Morrisville Line are projected to increase more than 150 percent, from 3,106 to 7,838.

“These projections raise serious questions about what this merger could mean for the safety and quality of life of Bucks County communities,” Santarsiero said. “If we are going to see substantially more freight, hazardous materials and truck traffic moving through our communities, we need to understand the impacts and make sure necessary safeguards are in place if this merger moves forward.”

The STB should complete a comprehensive review of the merger’s effects on Lower Bucks County before considering the proposal, Prokopiak said.

“The Surface Transportation Board must ensure that the proposed merger would not negatively impact residents or businesses,” Prokopiak stated.

The lawmakers are requesting the STB to figure out what hazardous materials could be transported through Falls Township and examine the potential impacts of a derailment or other release of hazardous materials into the environment.

The two also want the board to determine whether local emergency responders have the training, equipment, and information required to respond to an incident involving hazardous materials.

The projected increase in truck traffic also prompted concerns about congestion, noise, emissions, and traffic safety on local roads.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern project that the number of trains on the Morrisville Line would remain approximately the same even as freight volume increases by more than 50 percent.

Santarsiero and Prokopiak said in their statement that it raises concerns about whether trains could become longer or heavier and what that could mean for rail safety and wait times at crossings.

The companies’ projections identify numerous Pennsylvania rail segments and facilities that could exceed STB thresholds for environmental review. The companies have proposed transaction-related capital improvements in 17 states, but none in Pennsylvania, according to the lawmakers.

“We need to know whether Pennsylvania’s existing rail infrastructure, terminals and surrounding roads can safely handle these projected increases, and whether additional costs will ultimately fall on state and local taxpayers,” Santarsiero said. “If improvements or additional emergency-response resources are needed, those needs should be identified and addressed as part of the merger review.”

The lawmakers also raised concerns about federal safety oversight for railroads.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s fiscal 2027 budget justification projects staffing of 833 full-time-equivalent employees, down from 947 in fiscal 2025. The figures do not indicate how many inspectors would oversee the Morrisville corridor specifically.

“Before the consideration of this merger moves forward, we need a clear answer about who will be responsible for overseeing this increased activity, whether there will be enough inspectors and resources, and how hazardous-material traffic will be monitored,” Santarsiero said.

The next major deadline in the regulatory process is Sept. 30, when notices of intent to participate are due. Comments, protests, requests for conditions and evidence opposing or qualifying the merger application are due Nov. 18.

The STB has not yet set a date for the public hearing, and a decision on the massive merger could come next year.