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A Little CSX Rumor Control

Posted Jul 11, 2007 by Billy Townsend

Updated Jul 11, 2007 at 06:02 PM

There have been rumors floating around recently that CSX has purchased or is looking to purchase land in other Central Florida locations north or south of Winter Haven as possible alternative sites to the proposed hub.

CSX corporate spokesman Gary Sease says this is not true.

It is true that CSX bought 660 acres of land near the Florida Turnpike in Wildwood in November of 2005 with a mind toward making something similar to the what the Winter Haven project is proposed to be, Sease said. But, the company quickly decided that it needed a site more centrally located. Enter Winter Haven.

Sease claims CSX would not mind selling the land, with lots of frontage on its S-line, to a shipping company or some other interested party. (No word on if I’ll get a commission if the right person reads this and talks to the right person. ) Whatever happens with the land, Sease said the company is emphasizing that it is not an alternative to Winter Haven.

Protesting too much? Who knows?

Sease said he knows of no large site south of Winter Haven that might be subject to rumor.