(Adds details and background throughout) Oct 23 (Reuters) – Union Pacific reported a 9% rise in third-quarter profit on Thursday, powered by strong pricing. The West Coast railroad operator's quarterly net income rose to $1.8 billion, or $3.01 per share, from $1.7 billion, or $2.75 per share, a year earlier. Union Pacific said the results include merger costs of $41 million, or $0.07 per share, on a diluted basis. Union Pacific announced plans in July to acquire rival Norfolk Southern in an $85 billion deal aimed at creating the first coast-to-coast freight rail operator. (Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
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