Biggest industry news: Proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, potentially creating the first coast-to-coast Class I railroad since 1869, with insight into timelines and competitive possibilities.

Rail traffic trends: Total North American volumes up 3.6% y/y; strong carload growth led by grain, autos, and coal, while intermodal gains remain modes.

ARCI results: Q2 2025 railcar deliveries and orders both ticked higher, but the backlog fell to its lowest level since 2010, highlighting continued industry shift.

Conference connection: These topics and more will be explored in-depth at the FTR Transportation Conference in September.