Two of America's largest railroad companies are set to combine in an $85bn (£63.8bn) deal that would create the first firm with a coast-to-coast freight rail network in the US.
Union Pacific said it had agreed to buy its smaller East Coast rival Norfolk Southern, establishing a $250bn colossus that will link 100 ports and 43 states along more than 50,000 miles of track.
Executives said they expected the merger would make freight shipping more efficient and help rail compete against other modes of transportation.
They said they were confident the transaction would be approved, despite potential concerns from customers and unions about job losses, higher prices and service disruptions.
The Biden administration was known for its sceptical view of big mergers. But the Trump administration is expected to take a looser regulatory approach.
