Canadian Pacific Kansas City has intensified its criticism of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern over congestion on the Meridian Speedway and their proposed US$85 billion merger, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.

The Meridian Speedway, a 300-mile corridor in Louisiana and Mississippi, is a key route for cargo from California to the US Southeast. CPKC, which owns 70 per cent of the joint venture operating the line, said intermodal service has deteriorated in 2025.

Norfolk Southern filed a complaint to the US Surface Transportation Board on 30 September, citing delays on more than two-thirds of trains in August and a 10 per cent drop in volume. CPKC dismissed the complaint as a "self-serving narrative".

CPKC CEO Keith Creel said the line was built for 8,500-foot trains, but predecessors allowed longer trains that now cause delays. He said CPKC trains face daily delays of over 11 hours to accommodate longer UP and NS trains.

A temporary truce allows one long eastbound train per day until mid-November, when CPKC will add a new crew and reinstate the 8,500-foot limit. NS will compensate CPKC for delays.

Mr Creel also urged regulators not to rush the UP-NS merger review, arguing the deal would give the combined entity control of over 40 per cent of US rail traffic. He said CPKC's concerns should not be dismissed, noting that one-third of its workforce are US taxpayers.