This week’s guest is Ari Ashe, Senior editor of the Journal of Commerce which is part of S&P Global. Ari explains the ins and outs of the proposed, and potentially transformational, merger between the Union Pacific (UP) and the Norfolk Southern (NS) railroads. This deal would create the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Our conversation delves into what is driving the merger, what's at stake, and the potential benefits for carload customers by addressing messy interchanges in key hubs like Chicago and Memphis. Ari also discusses the timeline for approval, the motivations behind UP's pursuit of this historic deal, and the “Christmas Wish Lists” of concessions that opposing parties, such as other railroads, shippers, and unions, will be assembling. And as required in all podcasts, we talk a little bit about AI - using it as an example of where technology adoption can be used to improve effectiveness vs. efficiency.