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-13407
Implementation of Revisions to Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT, Specification M-1006 Passenger Equipment Performance Specification, and Associated Recommended Practices RP-2001 and RP-2002
Issued: September 10, 2019
Effective: September 10, 2019
The Association of American Railroads has formed a Passenger Equipment Acceptance Task Force, with the goal to develop an AAR Specification to address operational safety of new-design passenger equipment (both passenger cars and passenger locomotives) on freight railroad track. Revised Specification M-1006 and Associated Recommended Practices RP-2001 and RP-2002 are attached to the circular, and are implemented effective immediately. The Specification and Recommended Practices will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section M. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-13408
Implementation of Revised MSRP Section T, M-1004 Specification for Fuel Tenders, to include aspects for CNG Style Tenders
Issued: September 10, 2019
Effective: September 10, 2019
This implementation version incorporates changes to the M-1004 Specification to accommodate new requirements necessary for tenders to carry compressed natural gas. M-1004 Specification for Fuel Tenders, attached to the circular, is now implemented and effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-13410
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section F, SENSORS, Standard S-6020, Data Summary Definition-Line-Of-Road-Failure
Issued: September 13, 2019
Effective: September 13, 2019
Standard S-6020, attached to the circular, is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-13410
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section F, SENSORS, Standard S-6020, Data Summary Definition-Line-Of-Road-Failure
Issued: September 13, 2019
Effective: September 13, 2019
Standard S-6020, attached to the circular, is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-13412
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section F, SENSORS, Standard S-6102, Wayside Passing Data Format
Issued: September 13, 2019
Effective: September 13, 2019
Standard S-6102, attached to the circular, is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
Call for Comment
C-13409
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section F, Sensors, S-920, Appendix A, Purchase Core, Wheel Contour, and Wheel Shop Axle Characteristics
Issued: September 10, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment
The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments for proposed revisions to MSRP Section F, Sensors, S-920, Appendix A, addition of purchased core turned wheel set element, update of wheel element C119 for the wheel tread contour, and update of axle element C316 for the wheel shop axle characteristics. The proposal is attached to the circular.
C-13413
DRAFT S-9080.V1.0 – Positive Train Control Interoperability Committee Policy, is available for review and comment. In support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-1, Railway Electronics Systems Architecture and Concepts of Operations
Issued: September 19, 2019
Effective: 15 days for comment
This document defines policy-related items related to or required for PTC interoperability and document standard(s) associated with each. This list of policies and associated standards shall be under governance of the PTC Interoperability Committee. In order to provide adequate time for review and comment and meet the requirements of PTCIC Build 3, this document will have a 15-day comment period. The time period will begin with the date posted above. SharePoint access can be found at www.railinc.com (http://www.railinc.com/). Individuals and organizations who have company ID may access the SharePoint site directly. Those who want to comment and need access to the SharePoint site, Railinc., instructions to join this site are attached to the circular.
C-13415
Solicitation of Comments – Proposed Revisions to MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: Standard S-5513 – LOCOMOTIVE ALERTER REQUIREMENTS
Issued: September 30, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment
Section 5.0 – Alerter Activation and Nullification of S-5513 was revised by the Locomotive Committee (LC) in response to an April 2019 Transport Canada Rail Safety Technical Bulletin. The bulletin focused on locomotive rollaway protection and specifically references requirements within AAR standard S-5513. The proposed revisions are attached to the circular.
C-13416
Solicitation of Comments – Proposed Revisions to MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: Standard S-5018 – DYNAMIC BRAKING CONTROL
Issued: September 30, 2019
Effective: 30 days for comment
Upcoming Events
AAR October 2019 Tank Committee Meetings – Addison, Texas
October 15-17, 2019
Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel, TX
Come Visit Us! The Greenbrier Companies will be hosting a table at the AAR tank Car Committee meetings in October in Addison and we would love to see you.
Details and materials can be found at: https://www.aar.org/tank-car-committee-meeting-materials/
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.