N.J., N.Y. Officials Tap Train-Tracking System

Railroad company CSX Transportation announced yesterday that it has agreed to allow authorities in New Jersey and New York  to have real-time access to the locations and contents of its freight trains, United Press International reported (see GSN, April 9).

Access to the company’s operations network would provide officials with information regarding dangerous materials on trains that could be exploited by terrorists.  Emergency responders would also be able to communicate instantly with company workers.

Thousands of cargo containers arrive daily at New York Harbor and are transported away by rail, UPI reported.  Counterterrorism officials consider such marine containers a possible means for smuggling a radiological “dirty bomb” into the country (see related GSN story, today).

Rail company representatives and the governors of New York and New Jersey said they hope that other states along CSX rail lines would adopt the same system (United Press International, July 17).

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