RAILROADS

Railroad Goes to Court: Union Pacific Corp. is seeking a preliminary injunction to invalidate Santa Fe Pacific Corp.’s “poison pill” takeover defense. The railroad said it is seeking a decision in Delaware Chancery Court before Santa Fe’s Feb. 7 shareholders meeting to vote on the proposed merger with Burlington Northern Inc. Schaumburg, Ill.-based Santa Fe, owner of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, has agreed to be acquired by Burlington Northern in a complex cash-stock deal valued at $4 billion. It faces a hostile, $3.6-billion, all-cash takeover bid from Union Pacific.