Georgia Announces CSX Rail Security Partnership

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced Friday that the State of Georgia has entered into a rail security partnership with CSX Transportation. The public-private partnership, called "SecureNOW, allows the Georgia Emergency Management Agency-Office of Homeland Security (GEMA-OHS) to share critical security information, resources, and strategies with CSX, in order to enhance response capabilities to rail security events. GEMA-OHS will now have access to the rail company's secure online system, allowing state and local law enforcement officials to independently monitor, in real-time, the location of CSX railcars, as well as the contents of those railcars. The partnership also allows CSX to collaborate with local officials to jointly develop rail security training and preparedness exercises. CSX will begin providing 24/7 access to rail security professionals.

CSX has long promoted public-private partnerships. CSX promoted its SecureNOW program last year; SecureNOW pilot programs exist in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey and New York.