Merger discussions terminate in September. 1982 Santa Fe-led effort by states of Oklahoma and Arkansas to save, upgrade and operate Rock Island's line between Amarillo and Memphis fails. ICC denies petition for reconsideration of Santa Fe-SP merger despite grants of extensive trackage rights to Union Pacific and Rio Grande and public support. Southern Pacific sold to Rio Grande Industries. J.B. Hunt and Santa Fe form Quantum marketing partnership, carrying truck traffic by rail.
Floods sever main lines in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, disrupting operations.
Santa Fe completes centralization of dispatching, crew calling and other functions in Schaumburg, Topeka and Kansas City.