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Last month, Norfolk Southern Corp. handled 17 million tons of coal, coke and iron ore, breaking a record set in August 2005 and increasing 7.9 percent compared with May 2005. The railroad’s monthly coal volume of 16.5 million tons also bested the previous high-water mark established in August 2005 and rose 8.7 percent compared with May 2005.

During 2006’s first five months, NS handled 79.6 million tons of coal, coke and iron ore, up 3.7 percent compared with the same 2005 period. Coal volume of 77.7 million tons rose 4.6 percent.

Increased electricity generation demand, utilities efforts to rebuild stockpiles and a strong domestic market for metallurgical coal drove the volume increase, NS said.

Through May, NS moved 62 million tons of coal to utilities — the railroad’s largest coal customers — a 7.6 percent increase compared with the same 2005 period.