Norfolk Southern Corp posted a 32% decline in quarterly profit as the No 4 US railroad coped with weak freight volumes, the result of a sluggish economy.

The company on Wednesday reported fourth quarter profit of USD 307 million as compared with USD 452 million a year earlier.

Revenue eased by 16% to USD 2.1 billion.

Revenue for hauling coal was particularly hard hit, falling by 27% in the quarter.

US railroads are facing a drop in the volume of coal they transport this year as demand from electric utilities and other industrial users remains soft in the wake of the worst recession the world has seen since the 1930s.

(Sourced from Reuters)