MONTREAL – Canadian National and Kansas City Southern note that their proposed combination continues to gain support, with letters from customers, suppliers, elected officials, and other stakeholders being filed with the Surface Transportation Board.
Nearly 200 additional letters have been sent to CN and KCS and filed with the STB, bringing the total number of letters received to well over 1,650. Importantly, all of the letters being filed today support the companies’ request that the STB approve the proposed voting trust agreement.
One of the nearly 200 additional letters filed today is from Congressman Sam Graves, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Representative Graves “urge[s] approval of the voting trust” and notes that the “CN/KCS trust should meet the unlawful control test, and also meet the public interest financial test.” He also observes that “KCS is well-established and well respected within the Kansas City area and merging with CN will create new opportunities for trade and economic growth in the metro area and beyond. From a national and international perspective, the CN/KCS merger has the potential to improve commerce and access to markets by creating a single railroad that will streamline the movement of goods among Canada, the United States, and Mexico.”
Additional stakeholders from CN and KCS’ networks, including Mayor President Sharon Weston Broome of Baton Rouge, the Board and executives of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, and the Port of New Orleans, continue to write letters underscoring the significant benefits available through the combination.
Finally, the filing includes four letters of support from three local unions affiliated with Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen.
Perhaps opponents are “playing” on the reputation of the late Hunter Harrison to scare communities and politicians. Regardless, CP’s survival is at stake.