The merger would create the United States’ first coast-to-coast rail network, spanning 50,000 miles and 43 states.

Big mergers sometimes lead to big layoffs. Might that happen in the Harrisburg area — home to a giant Norfolk Southern hub — if Union Pacific completes its buyout of Norfolk Southern? Probably not, according to one industry expert.

A proposed merger between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific was announced Tuesday, causing a lot of uncertainty for Central Pennsylvania. If the $85 billion merger goes through, Union Pacific will acquire Norfolk Southern,