CSXT forms rail security partnership with Florida

Written by jrood

CSX Transportation said that it has entered into a rail security partnership with the State of Florida that represents a model CSXT hopes to use with other states it serves.

The partnership, called
SecureNOW, formalizes and enhances CSXT’s ongoing commitment to Florida to
share information, resources and strategies to better protect communities in
which the company operates.

"We’re pleased to be
the first railroad and private corporation to formalize a security partnership
with the Florida Fusion Center," said Skip Elliott, CSXT vice president of
public safety and environment. "This partnership allows CSXT and Florida
officials to effectively and seamlessly share information and work side by side
to safeguard the communities that we serve."

SecureNOW becomes another
resource in the Florida Fusion Center in Tallahassee, where state, federal and
local agencies work together to evaluate and act upon potential security
threats. The fusion center further enhances law enforcement and homeland
security efforts.

"CSXT and the State
of Florida are committed to securing our citizens, visitors and critical
infrastructure," said Tom McInerney, director of investigations and forensic
services with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which oversees the
Fusion Center. "This partnership is a model for a collaborative
public-private security initiative that we hope to replicate with other
industries to better serve our communities."

The SecureNOW partnership
provides Florida security officials with access to CSXT’s Network Operations
Workstation (NOW) system. This secure online system, developed and used by
CSXT, allows security and law enforcement officials to independently track the
location of CSXT trains and the contents of rail cars in a nearly real-time
environment.

In addition to providing
access to the NOW system, CSXT works with law enforcement officials in Florida
on joint rail security training and preparedness exercises and provides
around-the-clock access to CSXT rail security professionals.

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