Canadian National Railway

The 15th Annual Rail/Intermodal Roundtable examines the current state of the U.S. rail and intermodal markets, highlighting modest carload growth, improving service levels, and the ongoing impact of tariffs, truck competition, and emerging technology. Experts also weigh in on the potential Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, forecasting that regulatory review and broader economic conditions will shape service, pricing, and growth opportunities over the next several years.

Less than one week after Class I railroads CN and KCS said they reached a deal and entered into a definitive merger agreement, with CN acquiring KCS for $33.6 billion, which they said will “create the premier railway of the 21st century,” the companies announced today that they have made a joint filing with the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

As the freight railroad sector ostensibly was awaiting the recently-proposed Canadian Pacific (CP) acquisition of Kansas City Southern (KCS) for $29 billion, which was announced in March, the chances of that deal—marrying two Class I railroads—making it to the final station are dealing with a new issue on the tracks, with the other Class I North of the border, CN, throwing its hat into the ring today, with what it called a “superior proposal,” for $33.7 billion.

Class I railroad carrier Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. said ahead of its annual shareholder meeting earlier today that Fred Green, president and CEO, has left the company. This move comes in the wake of a proxy vote by activist investor Bill Ackman, head of Pershing Square Capital Management, and the single largest CP shareholder with a 14.1 percent stake in the company.

Class I railroad carrier Canadian National Railway (CN) recently announced it has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with TSI Terminal Systems, a subsidiary of GCT Container Terminals Inc., which endeavors to enhance service levels for mutual customers and draw greater volumes of traffic over Port Metro Vancouver.