Analysts say a merger likely would lead to a loss of headquarters jobs but eventually would produce growth and more jobs for unionized workers. Nearly all of it is in Missouri, where both railroads operate routes between Kansas City and St. Louis, and in Illinois. The former Wabash-GM&O route would be slower, and the connection between UP and NS in Kansas City is over BNSF rails, however. Current major UP-NS interchanges are located in Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, Shreveport, La., and New Orleans. The combined railroad likely would try to shift as much traffic out of Chicago and New Orleans as possible.