Union Pacific says its fourth-quarter profit jumped 24 percent as the nation’s largest freight railroad increased prices and hauled more cargo.

The Omaha-based railroad said Thursday that its net income rose to $964 million, or $1.99 per share, during the last three months of 2011. That’s up from $775 million, or $1.56 per share, a year ago.

Union Pacific Corp. said the carloads it carried grew about 3 percent overall during the quarter with strong growth in chemical, automotive, energy and industrial shipping.

Its revenue grew 16 percent to $5.1 billion. Union Pacific runs about 25 trains per day through Hutchinson and services most of the large grain elevators in the city.

Two more companies with ties to Hutchinson report their quarterly earnings next week. Siemens on the 24th and Eaton on Thursday January 26th.