5. Risks
The risk to the thesis could be from either of the following:
- UNP is unable to substitute coal with merchandise, including e-commerce
- The advent of electric trucks (with better fuel and battery technology) which can move long-haul more economically and take market share back from the rails
- Surface Transport Board (STB) declaring that the railroads have become ‘Revenue Adequate’, hence restricting their pricing power
- Service disruption from PSR, leading to regulatory discontent
- Any changes to the long-term economic competitiveness with the reduction in Capex