About AAR Circular Letters
Circular letter summaries are produced monthly by Greenbrier’s Regulatory Management team, a division of Greenbrier Management Services Group.
AAR circular letters provide information of general applicability to the railroad industry, including proposed and final rules, revisions, standards and recommended practices, and calls for comments. These summaries provide the main points of circular letters issued in the prior month, as well as important implementation deadlines.
For access to the complete circular letter, please go to my.aar.org/circulars. Circular letters are a fee-based service provided by the AAR’s Transportation Technology Center Incorporated (TTCI). You may subscribe online at publications@aar.com or call 719.584.0538.
Implementation Circulars
C-13379
MSRP Section J, M-1003 Quality Assurance Specification Appendix A Revision
Issued: July 12, 2019
Effective: July 12, 2019
Appendix A of the MSRP Section J, M-1003 Quality Assurance Specification has been revised. M-1003 requires that facilities that engage in Appendix A activities have AAR Quality Assurance certification. The following list of activities have been removed from Appendix A and therefore do not require M-1003 certification: B74 – Manufacturers of Rail, B75 – Manufacturers of Switches, B76 – Manufacturers of Frogs, and B77 – Manufacturers of Ties.
C-13380
Implementation of an Additional Term and Definition to the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section M; Standard S-5019 – LOCOMOTIVE DEFINITIONS
Issued: July 18, 2019
Effective: July 18, 2019
The following term and definition will be added to the MSRP, Section M, Standard S-5019:
DGE a/ – Diesel gallon equivalent-the amount of an alternate fuel having the same energy content as a gallon of diesel.
The revised AAR standard S-5019 is appended to the circular.
C-13385
IMPLEMENTED. AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-I Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concepts of Operations, Data Protection, Standard S-9010.V1.0
Issued: July 24, 2019
Effective: July 24, 2019
Standard S-9010.V1.0 defines data security categories, their required data protection mechanisms, and the approved protection mechanisms. It was adopted in 2019 and is attached to the circular. It will be incorporated in the next issue of the MSRP, Section K-I Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concepts of Operations. In the interim, please insert the Circular in your copy of the MSRP Section K-I and be governed accordingly.
C-13386
Implementation of Revised MSRP Section B, FREIGHT CAR DRAFT COMPONENTS, 2019
Issued: July 24, 2019
Effective: July 24, 2019
The revised MSRP Section B is now available in both printed and electronic versions. The manual can be purchased online at the following website: http://www.aarpublications.com/
All previously implemented standards and specifications are included in this print of Section B. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-13387
Additional 3 Month Extension to Mandatory Compliance Date for S-4027 Single Car Test Revision Criteria
Issued: July 29, 2019
Effective: Compliance will be mandatory November 1, 2019
Due to industry feedback, the Brake Systems Committee has decided to provide an additional 3 month extension to the S-4027 mandatory device hardware and software upgrade compliance date.
Call for Comment
C-13381
Solicitation of Comments – Proposed New Standard for MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: Standard S-5531 – REMOTE MONITORING EQUIPMENT, LOCOMOTIVE-INSTALLATION
Issued: July 18, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment
S-5531 was developed by the Locomotive Committee (LC) to establish standards for approval, installation, identification and verification of Remote Monitoring Equipment on locomotives. A draft of proposed standard S-5531 is attached to the circular.
Notice Circulars
C-13382
Open Registration for an AAR M-1003 Basic Auditor Training Class in Guadalajara, Mexico Scheduled for October 8-10, 2019
Issued: July 22, 2019
Effective: October 8-10, 2019
The M-1003 Basic Auditor Training Seminar is intended to improve the participant’s knowledge and skills needed in conducting M-1003 internal or external audits. The following link may be used for registration: https://tinyurl.com/y32omses
C-13383
Correction to the July 1, 2019 Release of Office Manual Appendix B
Issued: July 22, 2019
Effective: July 22, 2019
Appendix B, General Rules and Rules 2‐6 were missing from the July 1, 2019 issuance of the Office Manual Revisions. Office Manual Appendix B will not be re-issued. The AAR instructs users to print the Office Manual Appendix B, attached to the circular, and insert it into the Office Manual, replacing the July 1, 2019 Appendix B (yellow pages 149‐172).
C-13384
Fall 2019 AAR Technical Committee Meeting Schedule
Issued: N/A
Effective: N/A
The list of AAR Technical Committee meetings for the second half of 2019 are included in the circular. Meeting announcements can also be found online on the TTCI Technical Services web page: http://www.aar.com/standards/AARMeetingAnnouncements.html
Upcoming Events
Railway Interchange 2019
September 22-25, 2019
Minneapolis, MN
The Greenbrier Companies will be exhibiting at Railway Interchange 2019 in Minneapolis. Stop by and see our new covered hopper line-up!
Exhibit and conference details can be found at: https://railwayinterchange.org/
Greenbrier’s Regulatory Services Group
Peace of mind for your business.
The Regulatory Management Group, led by James Rader, provides regulatory, engineering, process consulting and advocacy support to the railcar repair industry and the petrochemical rail shipper community.
- ASNT Level III Subscription Services
- DOT Compliance Assessments (Corporate and Plant)
- DOT Hazardous Materials Training (Corporate and Plant)
- Expert Witness Services in Rail-Related Litigation
- Federal Government Claims Mitigation (e.g. FRA and PHMSA)
- Nondestructive Testing Programs
- Quality Assurance Program Development
- Regulatory Counsel and Policy Advocacy
- Railcar Repair Management (Design Review, Drawings, Engineering and AAR Approval Administration)
- Tank Car Reliability and Maintenance Programs (49 CFR Subpart F of Part 180)
- Tank Car Maintenance Data Collection and Reliability Performance Analysis
- Welding Program Development
For inquiries about these summaries or any of our services, please reach out to: regulatoryservices@gbrx.com
About Greenbrier Management Services (GMS)
Greenbrier Management Services (GMS) is North America’s most comprehensive railcar management solutions provider. GMS manages nearly 400,000 railcars and has invested over 20 years in developing technology, processes, and people to provide the best railcar management products and services in the industry. GMS is powered by proprietary software and the best subject matter experts in the railcar business.
COMPREHENSIVE. INTEGRATED. VALUE.
Combined, these two vitally important capabilities are able to deliver world-class solutions to every type of customer, from Class I railroads, lessors and industrial shippers to financial investors. GMS brings broad expertise to cover nearly any railcar management need that customers may have and its integrated solutions and reporting can be customized for any customer function or management need.