Two of the largest US railroads, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, announced on Tuesday a plan to combine in a $72 billion deal that would create America’s first transcontinental freight railroad.

Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad will strengthen U.S. supply chain, economy, and domestic manufacturing; preserve union jobs.

OMAHA, NEB. — Union Pacific Corp. has agreed to acquire Norfolk Southern Corp. for $85 billion, a merger that would unite two of North America’s Class I freight railroads and major US-based grain shippers to create the country’s first transcontinental railroad.