The Meridian Speedway service dispute reached the Surface Transportation Board after Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad sought action over intermodal service problems on CPKC’s route between Meridian, Mississippi, and Shreveport, Louisiana, as reported by Progressive Railroading.

Meridian Speedway service dispute denied by STB
Meridian Speedway service dispute denied by STB

Meridian Speedway service and the STB decision

The Surface Transportation Board rejected the requests. It said so in its March 13 decision. Also, the board said the two railroads had not shown a need for intervention.

Norfolk Southern asked the board in September 2025 to direct CPKC to provide a plan. The plan would restore intermodal train service on the corridor. Meanwhile, CPKC took control of the line through Canadian Pacific’s 2023 acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway.

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CPKC intermodal service at the Shreveport gateway

According to NS, CPKC intermodal service on the speedway and at the Shreveport gateway has deteriorated substantially since CP acquired KCS. In addition, NS said the decline affected several intermodal customers. Some shifted traffic from rail service to trucks, according to the STB’s decision document.

NS also argued that the weaker service was “inconsistent with representations that CP and KCS made to the board in the merger proceeding,” and that the board had the authority to require CPKC to restore service to acceptable levels and provide a service action plan, according to the STB document.

Separate Union Pacific Railroad request

In a separate request, Union Pacific Railroad asked the board to investigate the service deterioration on the speedway. Separately, UP said CPKC should be held to commitments made in the CP/KCS merger proceeding.

Still, the STB concluded that NS and UP had not shown a need for board intervention. At the same time, it denied the requests.

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