Controversial $31 Billion Railroad Merger Set to Proceed Despite Criticism and Antitrust Push.

The US Surface Transportation Board has approved Canadian Pacific Railway's $31bn acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway, creating a single railroad linking Canada, the US, and Mexico. The merger will take 64,000 truckloads off the road and add over 800 union jobs. However, critics warn that the merger will reduce competition, raise prices, cost jobs, and threaten safety. The East Palestine rail disaster and other recent accidents underscore the need for a more cautious approach to consolidation. Opponents of the deal point out that corporate consolidation in the railroad industry compromises safety and risks lives by prioritizing profits and cutting corners to reduce costs.