UNP and NSC are in early merger talks, eyeing a historic West-to-East freight line. However, regulatory hurdles loom large.

Union Pacific , the largest U.S. freight railroad operator, is exploring a possible acquisition of Norfolk Southern to create a $200 billion coast-to-coast rail network, a person familiar with the matter said.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are in merger talks to create the largest railroad in North America that would connect the East and West Coasts.