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Norfolk Southern Reports Third-Quarter 2009 Results
 
For third-quarter 2009:

- Railway operating revenues were $2.1 billion.

- Income from railway operations was $562 million.

- Net income was $303 million.

- Diluted earnings per share were $0.81.

- The railway operating ratio was 72.8 percent.

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the third quarter of 2009, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) reported net income of $303 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared with $520 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008.

"While our third-quarter results reflect the continuing weak economy, they also show Norfolk Southern's resilience and the strength of our franchise," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "By controlling costs and maintaining service levels, we are managing through this economic downturn and will emerge an even stronger company."

Third-quarter railway operating revenues were $2.1 billion, down 29 percent, compared with the third quarter of 2008, primarily the result of a 20 percent reduction in traffic volume and lower fuel-related revenues.

General merchandise revenues were $1.1 billion, 24 percent lower compared with the same period last year. Coal revenues declined 35 percent to $571 million compared with third-quarter 2008 results. Intermodal revenues decreased 31 percent to $389 million compared with the third quarter of last year.

Railway operating expenses for the quarter were $1.5 billion, a decrease of 25 percent over the same period of 2008.

The railway operating ratio was 72.8 percent, compared with 69.1 percent during third-quarter 2008.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.


               NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     Consolidated Statements of Income
                              (Unaudited)


                                 Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                                    September 30,           September 30,
                                 2009          2008       2009         2008
                                 ($in millions, except per share amounts)

    Railway operating
     revenues:
       Coal (note 1)             $571          $876     $1,684       $2,313
       General merchandise      1,103         1,458      3,056        4,268
       Intermodal                 389           560      1,123        1,578
                                -----         -----      -----        -----
    Total railway operating
     revenues                   2,063         2,894      5,863        8,159
                                -----         -----      -----        -----

    Railway operating expenses:
       Compensation and
        benefits (note 2)         598           708      1,788        2,075
       Purchased services and
        rents                     352           419      1,041        1,194
       Fuel                       192           474        504        1,369
       Depreciation               210           201        624          598
       Materials and
        other (note 3)            149           198        493          652
                                -----         -----      -----        -----
          Total railway
           operating expenses   1,501         2,000      4,450        5,888
                                -----         -----      -----        -----

             Income from
              railway
              operations          562           894      1,413        2,271

    Other income - net             37            39         90           92
    Interest expense on debt      118           111        348          332
                                  ---           ---        ---          ---

             Income before
              income taxes        481           822      1,155        2,031

    Provision for income taxes:
       Current                     80           184        255          586
       Deferred                    98           118        173          181
                                  ---           ---        ---          ---
          Total income taxes      178           302        428          767
                                  ---           ---        ---          ---

             Net income          $303          $520       $727       $1,264
                                 ====          ====       ====       ======

    Earnings per Share
     (note 4):
          Basic                 $0.82         $1.39      $1.97        $3.36
          Diluted               $0.81         $1.37      $1.94        $3.30

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding (millions)
     (notes 4 & 5):
          Basic                 367.3         372.5      366.8        374.4
          Diluted               372.5         380.5      371.7        382.6



    See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



               NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                   (Unaudited)


                                         September 30,  December 31,
                                              2009           2008
                                                 ($in millions)

    Assets
    Current assets:
       Cash and cash equivalents              $999           $618
       Accounts receivable - net               855            870
       Materials and supplies                  172            194
       Deferred income taxes                   152            149
       Other current assets                     55            168
                                             -----          -----
          Total current assets               2,233          1,999

    Investments                              2,067          1,779

    Properties less accumulated
     depreciation                           22,490         22,247

    Other assets                               285            272
                                           -------        -------

          Total assets                     $27,075        $26,297
                                           =======        =======

    Liabilities and stockholders' equity
    Current liabilities:
       Accounts payable                       $980         $1,140
       Income and other taxes                  219            261
       Other current liabilities               287            220
       Current maturities of long-term debt    380            484
                                             -----          -----
          Total current liabilities          1,866          2,105

    Long-term debt                           6,685          6,183

    Other liabilities                        1,892          2,030

    Deferred income taxes                    6,566          6,372
                                            ------         ------
          Total liabilities                 17,009         16,690
                                            ------         ------

    Stockholders' equity:
       Common stock $1.00 per share par
        value, 1,350,000,000 shares
        authorized; outstanding
        367,893,915 and 366,233,106
        shares, respectively, net of
        treasury shares                        369            368
       Additional paid-in capital            1,761          1,680
       Accumulated other comprehensive
        loss                                  (912)          (942)
       Retained income                       8,848          8,501
                                            ------          -----
          Total stockholders' equity        10,066          9,607
                                            ------          -----

          Total liabilities and
           stockholders' equity            $27,075        $26,297
                                           =======        =======



    See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



               NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                              (Unaudited)


                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                        September 30,
                                                     2009          2008
                                                        ($in millions)

    Cash flows from operating activities:
       Net income                                    $727        $1,264
       Reconciliation of net income to net cash
        provided by operating activities:
             Depreciation                             630           606
             Deferred income taxes                    173           181
             Gains and losses on properties           (13)          (24)
             Changes in assets and liabilities
              affecting operations:
                Accounts receivable                   (26)           63
                Materials and supplies                 22           (34)
                Other current assets                  111            93
                Current liabilities other than debt  (184)          (80)
             Other - net                              (65)            6
                                                    -----         -----
                   Net cash provided by operating
                    activities                      1,375         2,075

    Cash flows from investing activities:
       Property additions                            (919)       (1,104)
       Property sales and other transactions           61            74
       Investments, including short-term             (119)          (34)
       Investment sales and other transactions         10           254
                                                     ----          ----
                   Net cash used in investing
                    activities                       (967)         (810)

    Cash flows from financing activities:
       Dividends                                     (374)         (338)
       Common stock issued - net                       32           224
       Purchase and retirement of common Stock
        (note 5)                                        -          (899)
       Proceeds from borrowings - net                 990         1,225
       Debt repayments                               (675)       (1,126)
                                                     ----        ------
                   Net cash used in financing
                    activities                        (27)         (914)
                                                      ---          ----

                   Net increase in cash and cash
                    equivalents                       381           351

    Cash and cash equivalents:
       At beginning of year                           618           206
                                                     ----          ----

       At end of period                              $999          $557
                                                     ====          ====

    Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
       Cash paid during the period for:
          Interest (net of amounts capitalized)      $288          $254
          Income taxes (net of refunds)              $234          $401


    See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

    1.  Coal Revenues
        Third quarter 2008 includes $22 million related to a coal customer's
        2008 contracted volume shortfall and a nonrecurring effect related to
        the implementation of NS' new export coal billing system.

    2.  Labor Agreement
        Third quarter 2008 includes $28 million for lump-sum payments
        (including payroll taxes) due under a new labor agreement with the
        Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).

    3.  Materials and Other
        Second quarter 2009 includes a $21 million favorable adjustment
        related to settlement of a multi-year state tax dispute.

    4.  Earnings Per Share
        In the first quarter of 2009, NS adopted the provisions of the
        Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position (FSP) EITF
        No. 03-6-1, "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in
        Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities"
        (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 260-10), which requires
        the treatment of unvested stock options receiving dividend
        equivalents as participating securities in computing earnings
        per share under the two-class method.  NS has retrospectively
        applied the provisions of this FSP.  Accordingly, for basic
        earnings per share, income available to common stockholders for
        the third quarter 2009 and 2008 reflects a $2 million and $3
        million reduction, respectively, and for the first nine months
        of 2009 and 2008 a $6 million and $7 million reduction,
        respectively, from net income for the effect of dividend
        equivalent payments made to holders of stock options.  In addition,
        for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, diluted
        earnings per share was calculated under the more dilutive two-class
        method (as compared to the treasury stock method) and income
        available to common stockholders reflects a $2 million and $6
        million reduction, respectively, from net income for dividend
        equivalent payments.

    5.  Stock Repurchase Program
        In March 2007, NS' Board of Directors amended the stock repurchase
        program that was authorized in November 2005 so as to increase the
        number of shares of NS common stock that may be repurchased from 50
        million to 75 million.  In addition, the term of the program was
        shortened from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2010.  During the
        first nine months of 2009, NS did not repurchase any shares of common
        stock.  Since inception of the stock repurchase program in 2006, NS
        has repurchased and retired 64.7 million shares at a total cost of
        $3.3 billion.




SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation