WASHINGTON – The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has approved the $31 billion merger of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads, which will now be known as Canadian Pacific Kansas City.
There are 1,163 Canadian Pacific track miles in Minnesota and 501 in North Dakota.
Board chair Martin Oberman said the roots of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern don’t overlap – meaning, they don’t serve the same origins or destinations, so there’ll be no loss of a parallel competitive route.
Oberman said single-line service between Canada through the U.S. and Mexico will help boost the economy.
“Single line service between Canada through the United States and Mexico will enhance trade, enhance productivity, enhance shipper opportunities to expand their own businesses,” Oberman said. “That was one of the key factors that led us to find that this merger is in the public interest.”
Opponents voiced concerns about longer trains blocking most, and possibly all, intersections in small towns along their routes.
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