OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are reportedly in preliminary talks to merge, a move that could create the largest railroad in North America and link the East and West coasts under a single rail operator.
A source familiar with the discussions, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the talks but noted that neither company has commented on the potential deal.
The merger would unite Union Pacific, the largest U.S. freight railroad, with Norfolk Southern, the smallest of the six major rail carriers. While the idea has sparked industry speculation, it also raises questions about whether federal regulators would allow such a deal to proceed…