TRANSPORTATION

Railroads Complete Merger: The $5.4-billion merger of Union Pacific Corp. and Southern Pacific Rail Corp. creates the nation’s largest railroad with $10 billion in revenue and more than 30,000 miles of track covering most of the West. The combination triggered months of protests from shippers, communities and other railroads. But a federal regulatory board ruled in July that the benefits--better service and lower rates--would outweigh competitive concerns. Implementation of the merger will take at least two years.