THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605040374
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Corp., the country's largest railroad, may be interested in a merger with Norfolk Southern Corp., a newspaper reported Friday.
Railroad and financial sources told The Washington Post that managers of the two railroads have made preliminary contacts.
Norfolk Southern's vice president for public relations, Magda Ratajski, said the Virginia-based railroad would not comment on any merger matters.
Robert D. Krebs, president of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe, said he would like to wait a few years before making any new merger move, but will be ready if the opportunity arises. ``If I had my druthers, would I wait till 1998? Yes, you bet your sweet life. But whatever happens, happens,'' Krebs told the newspaper.
His old railroad, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, merged with much-larger Burlington Northern in September, creating a 31,000-mile railroad that runs mostly west of the Mississippi. Norfolk Southern's 14,500 miles cover the Southeast.
Periodically, reports surface that Norfolk Southern is interested in a merger with Conrail, which serves the Northeast. But Conrail Chairman David LeVan has said his company plans to remain independent. by CNB