Norfolk Southern 2nd quarter profit up 5%

Norfolk Southern 2nd quarter profit up 5% Norfolk Southern Corp. owners of Norfolk Southern Railway, posted second quarter net income of $453 million, up 15 percent compared to $394 million in the same period last year.
   Railway operating revenue for the second quarter was $2.77 billion, up 16.3 percent compared with the second quarter of last year.
   “Norfolk Southern delivered record financial results during the quarter, reporting continuing strength in our coal, agriculture and metals markets,” said Wick Moorman, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Looking ahead, our franchise should continue to benefit from a broad and balanced customer base as well as from rail’s inherent advantages over other transportation modes — safety and reliability, fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability.”
   For the first six months of 2008, Norfolk Southern's net income gained 9.6 percent to $744 million, while rail revenue increased 13.8 percent to $5.27 billion.