(Reuters) -U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern posted a rise in third-quarter profit on Thursday, in its first earnings report after announcing an $85 billion deal to form the nation’s first coast-to-coast freight rail operator with Union Pacific.

The deal, which drew a positive response from U.S. President Donald Trump, is still subject to regulatory clearance from the Surface Transportation Board.

Earlier on Thursday, Union Pacific topped Wall Street’s profit estimates on strong coal volumes. Last week, peer CSX beat Wall Street quarterly estimates on improving intermodal volumes and higher pricing in its merchandise segment, which helped offset lower coal prices.

Union Pacific said it expects to file a merger application with the STB by the end of November or early December this

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