(NAFB.com) – Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the Surface Transportation Board to reject the merger application filed by Union Pacific to acquire Norfolk Southern. If approved, the merger would greatly reduce competition in Class I rail and worsen the already poor service and high costs experienced by farmers and food manufacturers while jacking up consumer costs as businesses pay more to get their products to market. “As farm families watch the cost of almost everything skyrocket, the last thing they need is a rail merger that all but promises to raise prices and worsen already inadequate service for farmers, manufacturers, and businesses,” Baldwin said. “Approving this merger would take us in the wrong direction by stifling competition, worsening service, and raising costs on the consumers and businesses who are already facing growing headwinds because of the Trump administration’s trade policies.” The merger would be the most significant consolidation in freight rail in decades and reshape the entire rail industry.