Sen Manchin Posts Opinion on Railroad Merger

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is calling for the Senate Commerce Committee to investigate the possible impact of a proposed merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Norfolk Southern. Manchin’s office said Norfolk Southern has a $67 million payroll in West Virginia and invests $85 million in its tracks and facilities. Manchin said this is not a willing merger, but rather an attempt by Wall Street to purchase and dismantle an American rail company that has provided jobs for West Virginians. As the coal industry struggles, the focus is on keeping as many jobs as possible. Earlier this month, CSX announced that it is consolidating its administrative operations and will close the division in Huntington, citing a decline in coal revenues.