Florida-based freight rail company CSX opened its Hazardous Materials Training Institute on June 30 at the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Fire Academy of the South. The institute advances CSX’s broader safety mission.
The institute was developed by CSX and FSCJ and provides emergency responders, railroad personnel, and public safety partners with hands-on training. Emergency responders and railroad personnel will have the opportunity to strengthen their skills and coordinate agency response by practicing response techniques in learning environments that replicate real-world rail conditions. The facility includes 1,200 feet of track, freight and tank cars, and specialized training props.
“We’re proud that this institute supports a full range of training, from foundational awareness to emerging tools like drone-assisted incident management,” CSX President and CEO Steve Angel said after he toured the facility with members of the company’s senior leadership team. “Safety doesn’t begin when something happens. It begins long before that — through preparation, disciplined execution, and the relationships we build with partners like FSCJ and first responders.”
Angel also met with FSCJ leadership and addressed the inaugural class.
The institute’s first course, Railroad Operations for Emergency Managers, combines classroom instruction with immersive exercises designed to strengthen preparedness, coordination, and response capabilities across agencies.