Norfolk Southern says profit up 26%

Norfolk Southern says profit up 26%

   Norfolk Southern said it had first quarter net profit of $325 million 26 percent higher than the $257 million earned in the same 2010 period,

   Railway operating revenue for the quarter ending March 31 was $2.6 billion, 17 percent higher.

   General merchandise revenue was $1.3 billion, 10 percent higher compared with the same period last year. Coal revenue increased 30 percent to $816 million compared with first-quarter 2010 results. Intermodal revenue rose 18 percent to $485 million.