Update on TD3 CSX Territory Development – March, 2004

In response to recent inquiries about the future release of the River Line simulation, and enhancements to our available territories, the following is an update on our current projects.

Recently, CSX Transportation has implemented a more restrictive policy regarding the public release of company information. While railroad rules have always prohibited employees from divulging sensitive information, company publications such as timetables, freight schedules and rulebooks were generally available to non-employees in the past. Citing a greater need for security, as well as safety issues regarding the possible purchase & use of outdated manuals by employees, CSX is actively seeking to curtail the distribution of information about current operations. This not only includes the sale of timetables and other publications, but the posting of information on the internet as well. While it is unlikely that terrorists could obtain any information from company manuals that could not be gained by simple observation, and even more unlikely that an employee would purchase an outdated timetable for use, this is the policy that has been adopted.

In order to avoid the possibility that CSX could view our TD3 simulations as the release of sensitive information, we have decided to indefinitely postpone offering the River Line and other present day simulations of CSX lines. Our existing CSX territories will continue to be available, since they were produced in early 2001, and operating practices and schedules have undergone significant changes since then. In addition, they were based on information available to the public at the time, including Conrail employee timetables (available for sale to the public by Conrail), public passenger train schedules, and published freight schedules (also freely distributed at the time). While our simulations still offer an experience comparable to dispatching under current conditions, they are based on “historical” information and do not reflect current operations. For the same reasons that we have postponed the release of new territories, we will not be updating the existing simulations.

Our apologies to those who were waiting for the River Line. Hopefully, in the future, CSX will recognize that making non-commercial information available to railroad enthusiasts results in much needed public goodwill with minimal risk of misuse. In the meantime, we do have several other historical territories for TD3 in the works, that will eventually be available for free download on our website.