KCS 4Q profit up 73%

   Kansas City Southern Railways reported profit in the fourth quarter of 2011 of $96 million, 73 percent more than the $56 million during the same period the previous year.
   Revenue in the quarter was a record $530 million, 11 percent more than the $479 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth quarter carloads of 522,000, also a record, increased 7 percent over fourth quarter 2010.
   For the year 2011, the company had a profit of $332 million, compared to $180 million a year earlier. Revenue was a record $2.1 billion in 2011, up 16 percent over 2010. Carloads for 2011 were 2 million, up 8 percent from 2010 and for the first time annual volumes reached the 2 million threshold.
   “KCS continues to have abundant growth prospects and is very well-positioned to be a leading growth company in the transportation industry. We believe that in 2012, KCS will continue on a growth trend similar to that of the past year with mid-single digit increases in volumes and pricing,” said David L. Starling, president and chief executive officer, in a statement.