Norfolk Southern’s Profit Jumps

The Eastern freight railroad earned $257 million, or 68 cents per share, compared with $177 million, or 47 cents, a year earlier.

NS said that its results reflected “positive trends in the economy” in the first quarter. Demand grew in most business sectors.

Railway revenue grew 15% to $2.2 billion and traffic volume increased 9%.

Intermodal revenue gained 12% over a year ago to $410 million. General merchandise revenue increased 23% to $1.2 billion. Coal revenue grew 4% to $629 million.