AAR is establishing new wheel profile standard. Not in the following link is if it will apply to Amtrak. wonder if it will require axel minimum cas on some older signal systems ?
https://www.railwayage.com/freight/next-generation-wheel-profile-aar-2a/?RAchannel=news
I thought they went through a similar discovery a while ago.
I wouldn’t think it would have a significant effect on the shunting ability of a wheelset.
This is a freight profile, intended to show less change in high mileage service on regularly-ground rail. Not explicitly stated but implied is that the effects are important for cars in service that experience greater wear on ‘one side’ from high-rail contact in extended service without dressing. (Also not mentioned is what parts of the profile will be restored fully when wheels are periodically dressed, but I’m assuming less metal would have to be removed from ‘typical’ worn profile).
This is implicitly a better ‘fit’ to reground rail but the profile has higher conicity, which is not found desirable in most passenger service above 110mph. Presumably it would be useful in commuter service where substantial wear is expected and ‘sets’ or trucks are infrequently turned to equalize wear.