11.   The STB was given absolute authority to approve railroad mergers by Congress last year, making most judges reluctant to overturn its rulings, analysts said.

12.   The three-member board has responsibility for approving railroad mergers.

13.   The UP may have needed it to compete out West after an earlier railroad merger that produced Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.

14.   There are distinct differences between the railroad merger announced Thursday in Washington and the Delta-Western merger eight years ago, but there also are clear parallels.

15.   Two large railroad mergers were announced in recent weeks.

16.   Until now, any consideration of how a railroad merger would affect safety has slipped between the jurisdictions of several government agencies.

17.   Government regulators will consider setting performance standards and may even seek ways to increase competition when evaluating future railroad mergers.

18.   Some politically influential companies are following developments in the knowledge that the board still oversees railroad company mergers, freight charges and other items.

19.   The federal Surface Transportation Board said Monday it will take a harder look at proposed railroad mergers.

20.   Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater called Thursday for speedy completion of new rules governing railroad mergers.