NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Norfolk Southern hauled
49.67 million tons of coal in the third quarter of 2008, an all-time
quarterly high driven by strong export demand and more shipments of
domestic metallurgical coal.
Third-quarter 2008 coal tonnage increased 6 percent, up from 46.84
million tons during the same period last year. The previous record for any
quarter was 49.27 million tons in second quarter 2008.
Even as it handles record coal amounts, Norfolk Southern has reduced
the transit time of shipments over major coal lanes, with an 8.8 percent
improvement for the first nine months of 2008.
"Faster transit times when tonnage is at record levels indicate a fluid
rail network with capacity for growth," said Donald W. Seale, Norfolk
Southern executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "These
results reflect Norfolk Southern's continued commitment to satisfy customer
demand with efficient, timely service."
Norfolk Southern's export coal tonnage in the third quarter of 2008 was
up 55 percent over the same period last year, to 6.26 million tons from
4.05 million tons, the majority of it used to make coke for steel
production. Tonnage of coal shipped through the Baltimore transloading
operation increased 128 percent, to 1.45 million tons from 636,000 tons,
while tonnage through the Pier 6 transloading facility at Norfolk, Va.,
rose 42 percent, to 4.81 million tons from 3.38 million tons.
"By September 6 of this year, tonnage moving over Pier 6 had exceeded
the total handled there for all of 2007," Seale said. "Even at this level,
we have the capacity to double current volume, should coal supply and
demand support that degree of increased activity."
In the domestic steel-related market, including coke, iron ore, and
metallurgical coal used to make coke, tonnage hauled by Norfolk Southern in
third quarter 2008 increased 8 percent over the same period last year, to
5.24 million tons from 4.85 million tons.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier
transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates
approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia,
serving every major container port in the eastern United States and
providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern
operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North
America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.
SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.nscorp.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/626525.html /
CONTACT:
Media, Frank Brown, +1-757-629-2710,
fsbrown@nscorp.com, or Investors, Leanne Marilley,
+1-757-629-2861, leanne.marilley@nscorp.com, both of Norfolk
Southern Corporation
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