Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are working on a deal to create one massive railroad operator that would stretch coast-to-coast across the U.S.

The details: If approved, this would be America's first transcontinental railroad, linking over 50,000 miles of track and reaching 43 states. The deal is valued at $85 billion for Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific’s network is already worth more than $130 billion.

• Both companies claim this would make moving freight like steel, lumber, and manufactured goods smoother from East to West.
• Big impact for truckers: The merged rail line promises to cut into market share that’s long belonged to the trucking industry by making it quicker and easier for shippers to stick to rail instead of the highways.
• Executives say it could also help cut road congestion by taking more freight off trucks, reducing wear and tear on public roads.

Regulatory hurdles: Not everyone is cheering. Some industry experts and customers are raising concerns over having one giant railroad. They say it could cut competition and make it tougher for shippers to negotiate prices—especially since the U.S. would have just five big freight railroads instead of six, according to The Week.

• If the merger happens, it would need to clear tough government review, and other railroads like BNSF and CSX may start eyeing similar deals.
• Rules since 2001 force any big rail merger to prove it would help competition and serve the public.

The companies announced their agreement on July 29th, but there’s no timeline for when or if regulators will sign off.