BNSF’s Third-Quarter Income Improves

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter profit jumped to $595 million, or $2 a share, from $530 million, or $1.48, a year ago.

Freight revenue rose 21%, to $4.77 billion, the Western rail line said in a statement.

BNSF attributed the revenue gain to improved yields and an increase in fuel surcharges of approximately $570 million.

Consumer products revenue, which includes intermodal, rose 16% $1.69 billion, due mainly to growth in domestic intermodal unit volumes and improved yields, offset by lower international intermodal unit volumes.

BNSF, whose unit BNSF Railway Co. operate west of the Mississippi River, said each of its business units benefited from higher fuel surcharges.