Regulators turn down requests for summary denial of UP-NS merger

The Surface Transportation Board has turned down the long-shot efforts of opponents to bring a quick end to Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger plans. The board announced late today (Friday, Sept. 18) that it had denied three motions — filed on Aug. 6 by BNSF Railway (NYSE: BRK-B), CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), and a coalition of shipper associations — that called for summary denial of the UP-NS merger application on the grounds that the two railroads had not met the prima facie, or first look, standard in support of the merger.