Norfolk Southern said it had a profit of $554 million in the third quarter ending Sept. 30, 24 percent more than it earned in the third quarter of 2010.
Total railway operating revenues in the third quarter were $2.9 billion, up 18 percent from the $2.5 billion in the same 2010 period.
General merchandise revenues were $1.4 billion, 12 percent higher compared with third-quarter 2010 results. Coal revenues increased 27 percent, to $899 million, compared with the same period last year. Intermodal revenues were $551 million, 19 percent higher compared with the third quarter of 2010.