NSW signalling standards, principles

[satanuccio]

http://extranet.artc.com.au/
Another good website for oz signals.
Milo:wave:

 

[Red_Rattler]

NOTE TO MODS: I suggest the original poster's link be removed

I suggest the original poster remove that link ASAP please.

I believe that it may (note may) be prohibited to actually show that direct link publicly. It is with prohibited with Rail*Corp.

 

[pware]

No - the ARTC web site has no such prohibition. However, the equivalent Rail Corp site does have a policy of keeping their address "dark".

 

[Red_Rattler]

Pware, I hope you are correct, and the spelling (ie: separate words) of those two government organisations was deliberate. Wonder why they have a different policy from one another?

 

[pware]

Pware, I hope you are correct, and the spelling (ie: separate words) of those two government organisations was deliberate. Wonder why they have a different policy from one another?

I have been accessing both sites for some years now and have never seen anything on the ARTC site that asks users not to publish links to their pages. The Rail Corp site, however, has a very clear and obvious "in your face" message discouraging the publication of any links to their technical (signalling, STNs, etc) pages.

As you say both are government, or more correctly "corporatised" government organisations. Perhaps the fact that ARTC was formed by several state governments and the Federal government, while Rail Corp is a strictly NSW government entity may be the reason why there is a difference in their policies. Regardless, I have always respected the requests from Rail Corp for Web anonymity. However I must admit that it was a posting some years ago (not on a Trainz forum), breaking their prohibition, that revealed Rail Corps address to me.

Peter Ware

 

[mattm]

Red_Rattler:
I can take a hint. I will not ask for the link. Obviously, there are serious security concerns with regards to Railcorp documentation. Evidently they are tightly controlled, and as i have no affiliation with Railcorp, i shall refrain from requesting the link from this point on.

Cheers,

Matt.

 

[Red_Rattler]

Which is? I would like very much to view some of railcorps documents

I ask that if anyone knows the site, DO NOT (repeat DO NOT) post the link.

 

[Wolfie7AU]

If it's so confidential, why do they not password protect the content they not want publically seen? A far better actual security measure, and makes a lot more sense than a "shhh, it's a secret web site, don't tell anyone" approach.

 

[marlonza]

This is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Putting a public accessible site on a public network, with no encryption or authentication mechanisms, and then saying it's prohibited... that laughable.

If you dig a hole in the park, put all your life savings in it, and have a big red arrow flashing on top, the police won't take your case.

I agree with wolfie "sshhhh, lol!"

But this is an excellent source of info.

On a second note, why are signals/info secret? Shouldn't knowledge like this benefit everyone the more it's spread

 

[mattm]

Snip.

But this is an excellent source of info.

On a second note, why are signals/info secret? Shouldn't knowledge like this benefit everyone the more it's spread

Marlonza, yes this information, in the right hands, can be extremely useful. However, that is the problem: ensuring that the information is only made available to trustworthy persons. Unfortunately not everybody is as trustworthy as you and me; hence the need to control who gets access to the information.

You need to remember, after all, that the link in question provides access to documentation that details safeworking procedures; and as Railcorps' main business is the transportation of large numbers of people around a busy, highly complex rail network, i, for one, would prefer that this information is only made available to those persons who require it.
Unfortunatley for you and me, Railcorp appears to hold these same views, and people with a need to know would not include rail enthusiasts, however innocent their purposes may be.

As to Wolfie's question, the way i understand it, people who require access to Railcorp documentation must apply in writing, and a user id and password would be supplied for access to the site; Hopefully, after a security check or similar, to make sure that the information is being used responsibly.

In the hopes that this explains it clearly, i bid you good day.

Matt.

 

[Red_Rattler]

At moderators and/or admins, it might be better if this topic is locked.

 

[Wolfie7AU]

As to Wolfie's question, the way i understand it, people who require access to Railcorp documentation must apply in writing, and a user id and password would be supplied for access to the site; Hopefully, after a security check or similar, to make sure that the information is being used responsibly.

If it's password protected, then minimal need to be concerned over publishing the link, as there would be minimal point for anyone to visit the site without said access account, as a public user is going to be able to see minimal information. The reason for responding as before, was because the posting implied the "don't tell anyone the link" approach was the only means of protecting the info (which yes, sadly we all have a heightened awareness of what it's misuse could result in).