Norfolk Southern profit up 59%

Norfolk Southern profit up 59%

   Norfolk Southern Corp. said Tuesday it had second quarter net profit of $392 million, 59 percent more than the $247 million earned in the second quarter of 2009.

   Operating revenue was $2.4 billion, up 31 percent from the second quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of a 22 percent increase in traffic volume.

   General merchandise revenue rose 31 percent to $1.3 billion in the quarter; coal revenue increased 36 percent to $696 million; and intermodal revenue was $451 million, up 23 percent.