BNSF New Citizens for Rail Security Website?

Got an e-mail today supposedly from BNSF announcing their new Citizens for Rail Security Website.

Anyone know if this is legit? (there is a hot link in the e-mail and with all the scams out there I am not sure I want to click it). I signed up (8/2006) and got my ID card but have not heard a peep from them till today.

Anyway, here is the announcement:

FORT WORTH, Texas, October 1, 2007 - Railroads transport much of the food, building materials, coal for electricity and consumer products that are utilized each day, and breaches in railroad security can threaten the national, state and local economies. As part of a heightened security awareness, Americans are being asked to be the eyes and ears for law enforcement officers.

To help improve security, BNSF Railway Company has expanded its Citizens for Rail Security program by launching two videos aimed at community groups and law enforcement agencies. The videos illustrate how effective these groups can be in the fight against terrorism and vandalism to protect global commerce. These videos will help citizens and law enforcement officers become more educated on what to report and to whom.

Citizens and officers should be on the lookout for:

Trespassers

Suspicious packages or other articles left on or near railroad property

Unusual conduct in neighborhoods near or around railroad tracks and yards

Crimes in progress such as theft

Threats or hostile language against the railroad

One video is aimed at communities and residents who can help secure America’s rail network by knowing what to report and how best to describe the location or scene. The other video, aimed at law enforcement agencies, educates officials on railroad safety, who to cal

There is no press release from today on BNSF’s website. I cannot find any links to any such a page. You might try contacting BNSF.

http://www.bnsf.com/employees/communications/bnsf_today/2007/02/2007-02-12-e.html

That’s perfictly fine. There was a column in the newest TRAINS mag about that. I got it today.

EDIT: I wish CSX had a program like that; BNSF is really far away for me![8D]

Pathfinder,

I checked my email after I read your post,I got the same email and I carry a crs card as well. I downloaded the video and watch it,they even used my friend to be in it,he’s one of the citizens taking a pic of a passing train…Thot you might want to know…

Danny

I belong to CRS and I have been to the website. Last year I called the 800 number to report someone driving a car dangerously close to the tracks near the Fullerton CA station. The railfans at Fullerton who belong take it quite seriously.

Jack

Well, the press release seems to be professionally written, which is a good sign. (Most phishing attempts I have seen look like they were written by non-native speakers, and to me there are obvious signs that the writers are inexperienced in english…of course, I may have fallen victum to phishers who actually know how to write properly…)

Where do you supose they got your e-mail address? If you provided it to them, that’s another good sign.

Certainly cant blame you for being cautious…especially with the new vulnerabilities that seem to be announced everyday…

Pathfinder,

BNSF released this article to the press today…Its posted under media news releases.

Check it out !

Danny

Thanks everyone!

I will check it out as it seems legit.

Well done BNSF.