Section XVII

VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS

AND ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT

Notes.
1.- This Section does not cover articles of heading 95.03 or 95.08, or bobsleighs, toboggans or the like of
heading 95.06.

2.- The expressions “parts” and “parts and accessories” do not apply to the following articles, whether or not
they are identifiable as for the goods of this Section:

(a) Joints, washers or the like of any material (classified according to their constituent material or in
heading 84.84) or other articles of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber (heading 40.16);

(b) Parts of general use, as defined in Note 2 to Section XV, of base metal (Section XV), or similar
goods of plastics (Chapter 39);

(c) Articles of Chapter 82 (tools);

(d) Articles of heading 83.06;

(e) Machines or apparatus of headings 84.01 to 84.79, or parts thereof, other than the radiators for the
articles of this Section; articles of heading 84.81 or 84.82 or, provided they constitute integral parts
of engines or motors, articles of heading 84.83;

(f) Electrical machinery or equipment (Chapter 85);

(g) Articles of Chapter 90;

(h) Articles of Chapter 91;

(ij) Arms (Chapter 93);

(k) Luminaires and lighting fittings and parts thereof of heading 94.05; or

(l) Brushes of a kind used as parts of vehicles (heading 96.03).

3.- References in Chapters 86 to 88 to “parts” or “accessories” do not apply to parts or accessories which
are not suitable for use solely or principally with the articles of those Chapters. A part or accessory
which answers to a description in two or more of the headings of those Chapters is to be classified
under that heading which corresponds to the principal use of that part or accessory.

4.- For the purposes of this Section:

(a) Vehicles specially constructed to travel on both road and rail are classified under the appropriate
heading of Chapter 87;

(b) Amphibious motor vehicles are classified under the appropriate heading of Chapter 87;

(c) Aircraft specially constructed so that they can also be used as road vehicles are classified under the
appropriate heading of Chapter 88.

5.- Air-cushion vehicles are to be classified within this Section with the vehicles to which they are most akin
as follows :

(a) In Chapter 86 if designed to travel on a guide-track (hovertrains);

(b) In Chapter 87 if designed to travel over land or over both land and water;

(c) In Chapter 89 if designed to travel over water, whether or not able to land on beaches or
landing-stages or also able to travel over ice.
Parts and accessories of air-cushion vehicles are to be classified in the same way as those of vehicles of the
heading in which the air-cushion vehicles are classified under the above provisions.

Hovertrain track fixtures and fittings are to be classified as railway track fixtures and fittings, and signalling,
safety or traffic control equipment for hovertrain transport systems as signalling, safety or traffic control
equipment for railways.

GENERAL
(I) GENERAL CONTENT OF THE SECTION
This Section covers railway vehicles of all types and hovertrains (Chapter 86), other land vehicles, including
air-cushion vehicles (Chapter 87), aircraft and spacecraft (Chapter 88) and ships, boats, hovercraft and
floating structures (Chapter 89), except the following :

(a) Certain mobile machines (see Part (II) below).

(b) Demonstrational models of heading 90.23.

(c) Toys, certain winter sports equipment, and vehicles specially designed for amusement park rides, water
park amusements and fairground amusements. The Section excludes, for example toy cycles (other
than bicycles), pedal cars, etc., designed to be ridden by children, toy boats and aircraft (heading
95.03); bobsleds, toboggans and the like (heading 95.06); “dodge’em” cars, tractors and other transport
vehicles, including trailers, specially designed for and forming part of fairground amusements (e.g., ring-
stand trailers) (heading 95.08).

In addition, the Section includes certain specified items of associated transport equipment such as
containers specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport, certain railway
or tramway track fittings and fixtures, and mechanical (including electro-mechanical) signalling equipment
(Chapter 86) and parachutes, aircraft launching gear, deck-arrestor or similar gear and ground flying trainers
(Chapter 88).

Subject to the provisions of Part (III) below, the Section also covers parts and accessories of the vehicles,
aircraft, etc., of Chapters 86 to 88.

(II) SELF-PROPELLED OR OTHER MOBILE MACHINES

Many machines or equipment (in particular of the type falling in Section XVI) can be mounted on the vehicle
chassis or on the floating bases of Section XVII; the classification of the resultant mobile machine depends
on various factors, in particular on the type of base.

For example, all mobile machines, formed by mounting a machine on a floating base are classified in
Chapter 89 (e.g., floating cranes, dredgers, grain elevators, etc.). For the classification of mobile machines
formed by mounting equipment on a vehicle chassis of Chapter 86 or 87, see the Explanatory Notes to
heading 86.04, 87.01, 87.05, 87.09 or 87.16.

(III) PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

It should be noted that Chapter 89 makes no provision for parts (other than hulls) or accessories of ships,
boats or floating structures. Such parts and accessories, even if identifiable as being for ships, etc., are
therefore classified in other Chapters in their respective headings. The other Chapters of this Section each
provide for the classification of parts and accessories of the vehicles, aircraft or equipment concerned.

It should, however, be noted that these headings apply only to those parts or accessories which comply
with all three of the following conditions :

(a) They must not be excluded by the terms of Note 2 to this Section (see paragraph (A) below).
and (b) They must be suitable for use solely or principally with the articles of Chapters 86 to 88 (see
paragraph (B) below).

and (c) They must not be more specifically included elsewhere in the Nomenclature (see paragraph (C)
below).

(A) Parts and accessories excluded by Note 2 to Section XVII.

This Note excludes the following parts and accessories, whether or not they are identifiable as for the
articles of this Section :

(1) Joints, gaskets, washers and the like, of any material (classified according to their constituent
material or in heading 84.84) and other articles of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber (e.g.,
mudguard-flaps and pedal covers) (heading 40.16).

(2) Parts of general use as defined in Note 2 to Section XV, for example, cable and chain whether
or not cut to length or equipped with end fittings, other than brake cables, accelerator cables and
similar cables suitable for use in vehicles of Chapter 87), nails, bolts, nuts, washers, cotters and
cotter-pins, springs (including leaf springs for vehicles) (such goods of base metals fall
in Chapters 73 to 76 and 78 to 81, and similar goods of plastics fall in Chapter 39), and locks,
fittings or mountings for vehicle coachwork (e.g., made up ornamental beading strips, hinges, door
handles, grip bars, foot rests, window opening mechanisms), number plates, nationality plates, etc.
(such goods of base metals fall in Chapter 83, and similar goods of plastics fall in Chapter 39).

(3) Spanners, wrenches and other tools of Chapter 82.

(4) Bells (e.g., for cycles) and other articles of heading 83.06.

(5) Machines and mechanical appliances, and parts thereof, of headings 84.01 to 84.79, for
example :

(a) Boilers and boiler equipment (heading 84.02 or 84.04).

(b) Producer gas generators (e.g., for cars) (heading 84.05).

(c) Steam turbines of heading 84.06.

(d) Engines of all kinds including engines fitted with gear boxes and parts thereof, falling
in headings 84.07 to 84.12.

(e) Pumps, compressors and fans (heading 84.13 or 84.14).

(f) Air-conditioning machines (heading 84.15).

(g) Mechanical appliances for projecting, dispersing or spraying liquids or powders; fire
extinguishers (heading 84.24).

(h) Lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery (e.g., hoists, jacks, derricks), moving,
grading, levelling, scraping, excavating, tamping, compacting, extracting or boring
machinery, for earth, minerals or ores (heading 84.25, 84.26, 84.28, 84.30 or 84.31).

(ij) Agricultural machinery of heading 84.32 or 84.33 (e.g., threshing, seed distributing,
mowing, etc., attachments) constructed for mounting on vehicles.

(k) Machinery of a kind described in heading 84.74.

(l) Windscreen wiping mechanisms of heading 84.79.

(6) Certain other goods of Chapter 84, e.g.:

(a) Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances (e.g., radiator drainage taps, inner-tube
valves) (heading 84.81).

(b) Ball or roller bearings (heading 84.82).

 (c) Internal parts of engines or motors (crank shafts, cam shafts, flywheels, etc.) falling
in heading 84.83.

(7) Electrical machinery or equipment of Chapter 85, for example :

(a) Electric motors, generators, transformers, etc., of heading 85.01 or 85.04.

(b) Electro-magnets, electro-magnetic clutches, brakes, etc., of heading 85.05.

(c) Electric accumulators (heading 85.07).

(d) Electrical ignition or starting equipment of a kind used for spark-ignition or

compression-ignition internal combustion engines (sparking plugs, starter motors, etc.)
(heading 85.11).

(e) Electrical lighting, signalling, windscreen wiping, defrosting, demisting, equipment for
cycles or motor vehicles (heading 85.12); electrical signalling apparatus for other
vehicles (e.g., trains) or for aircraft or ships (heading 85.31); electrical defrosters or
demisters for such other vehicles, aircraft or ships (heading 85.43).

(f) Electric heating units for motor or railway vehicles, aircraft, etc. (heading 85.16).

(g) Microphones, loudspeakers and audio-frequency electric amplifiers (heading 85.18).

(h) Radio transmitters and receivers (heading 85.25 or 85.27).

(ij) Electrical capacitors (heading 85.32).

(k) Pantographs and other current collectors for electric traction vehicles, and fuses,
switches and other electrical apparatus of heading 85.35 or 85.36.

(l) Electric filament lamps and electric discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units,
of heading 85.39.

(m) Other electrical fittings, such as insulated electric wire and cable (including wiring sets)
and electrical articles of graphite or other carbon, whether or not fitted with terminals;
insulators, insulating fittings (headings 85.44 to 85.48).

(8) Instruments and apparatus of Chapter 90, including those used on certain vehicles, such as :

(a) Photographic or cinematographic cameras (heading 90.06 or 90.07).

(b) Navigational instruments and appliances (heading 90.14).

(c) Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences
(heading 90.18).

(d) Apparatus based on the use of X-rays and other apparatus of heading 90.22.

(e) Manometers (heading 90.26).

(f) Revolution counters, taximeters, speed indicators and tachometers and other instruments
and apparatus of heading 90.29.

(g) Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines of heading 90.31.

(9) Clocks (e.g., instrument panel clocks) (Chapter 91).

(10) Arms (Chapter 93).

(11) Luminaires and lighting fittings (e.g., headlamps for aircraft or trains) of heading 94.05.

(12) Brushes (e.g., for road sweeper lorries) (heading 96.03).

(B) Criterion of sole or principal use.

(1) Parts and accessories classifiable both in Section XVII and in another Section.
 Under Section Note 3, parts and accessories which are not suitable for use solely or principally with
the articles of Chapters 86 to 88 are excluded from those Chapters.

The effect of Note 3 is therefore that when a part or accessory can fall in one or more other Sections
as well as in Section XVII, its final classification is determined by its principal use. Thus the steering
gear, braking systems, road wheels, mudguards, etc., used on many of the mobile machines falling in
Chapter 84, are virtually identical with those used on the lorries of Chapter 87, and since their principal
use is with lorries, such parts and accessories are classified in this Section.

(2) Parts and accessories classifiable in two or more headings of the Section.

Certain parts and accessories are suitable for use on more than one type of vehicle (motor cars,
aircraft, motorcycles, etc.); examples of such goods include brakes, steering systems, wheels, axles,
etc. Such parts and accessories are to be classified in the heading relating to the parts and
accessories of the vehicles with which they are principally used.

(C) Parts and accessories covered more specifically elsewhere in the Nomenclature.
Parts and accessories, even if identifiable as for the articles of this Section, are excluded if they are
covered more specifically by another heading elsewhere in the Nomenclature, e.g. :

(1) Profile shapes of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber, whether or not cut to length
(heading 40.08).

(2) Transmission belts of vulcanised rubber (heading 40.10).

(3) Rubber tyres, interchangeable tyre treads, tyre flaps and inner tubes (headings 40.11 to 40.13).

(4) Tool bags of leather or of composition leather, of vulcanised fibre, etc. (heading 42.02).

(5) Bicycle or balloon nets (heading 56.08).

(6) Towing ropes (heading 56.09).

(7) Textile carpets (Chapter 57).

(8) Unframed safety glass consisting of toughened or laminated glass, whether or not shaped
(heading 70.07).

(9) Rear-view mirrors (heading 70.09 or Chapter 90 - see the corresponding Explanatory Notes).

(10) Unframed glass for vehicle headlamps (heading 70.14) and, in general, the goods
of Chapter 70.

(11) Flexible shafts for speed indicators, revolution counters, etc. (heading 84.83).

(12) Vehicle seats of heading 94.01.

______________________
 Chapter 86
Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof;
railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof;
mechanical (including electro-mechanical)
traffic signalling equipment of all kinds
Notes.
1.- This Chapter does not cover :
(a) Railway or tramway sleepers of wood or of concrete, or concrete guide-track sections for
hovertrains (heading 44.06 or 68.10);
(b) Railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel of heading 73.02; or
(c) Electrical signalling, safety or traffic control equipment of heading 85.30.
2.- Heading 86.07 applies, inter alia, to :
(a) Axles, wheels, wheel sets (running gear), metal tyres, hoops and hubs and other parts of
wheels;
(b) Frames, underframes, bogies and bissel-bogies;
(c) Axle boxes; brake gear;
(d) Buffers for rolling-stock; hooks and other coupling gear and corridor connections;
(e) Coachwork.
3.- Subject to the provisions of Note 1 above, heading 86.08 applies, inter alia, to :
(a) Assembled track, turntables, platform buffers, loading gauges;
(b) Semaphores, mechanical signal discs, level crossing control gear, signal and point controls,
and other mechanical (including electro-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control
equipment, whether or not fitted for electric lighting, for railways, tramways, roads, inland
waterways, parking facilities, port installations or airfields.

GENERAL
This Chapter covers locomotives and rolling-stock, and parts thereof, and certain track fixtures and
fittings, for railways or tramways of any kind (including narrow gauge railways, single rail railways,
etc.). It also covers containers specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes
of transport. Mechanical (including electro-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment
for traffic of all kinds (including that for parking facilities) is also covered.
Throughout this Chapter, the expressions “railway” and “tramway” refer not only to conventional
railways and tramways using steel rails, but also to similar guided systems such as those using
magnetic levitation or concrete tracks.
These various goods are classified as follows :
(A) Self-propelled railway vehicles of all types, such as locomotives, motorised railway or
tramway coaches and rail-cars (headings 86.01 to 86.03). Heading 86.02 also includes
locomotive tenders. Locomotives operated by two types of power are classified in the
heading corresponding to the main type of power used.
 (B) Railway or tramway maintenance or service vehicles, whether or not self-propelled (heading
86.04).
(C) Various types of hauled vehicles (railway or tramway passenger coaches and luggage vans,
railway or tramway goods vans, wagons and trucks, etc.) (headings 86.05 and 86.06).
(D) Parts of railway or tramway locomotives and rolling-stock (heading 86.07), and also railway
or tramway track fixtures and fittings, and mechanical (including electro-mechanical)
equipment, for signalling to or controlling road, rail or other vehicles, ships or aircraft
(heading 86.08).
(E) Containers specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport
(heading 86.09).
The Chapter also includes air-cushion vehicles designed to travel on a guide-track (hovertrains),
parts of these vehicles, and hovertrain track fixtures, fittings and mechanical (including
electro-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for hovertrain transport systems
(see Note 5 to Section XVII).
Incomplete or unfinished vehicles are classified with the corresponding complete or finished
vehicles, provided they have the essential character thereof. Such vehicles may include :
(1) Locomotives or motorised railway or tramway coaches, not fitted with a power unit,
measuring instruments, safety apparatus or service equipment.
(2) Passenger coaches not fitted with seats.
(3) Truck underframes complete with suspension and wheels.
On the other hand, bodies of motorised railway or tramway coaches, of vans, wagons or trucks or
of tenders, not mounted on underframes, are classified as parts of railway or tramway locomotives
or rolling-stock (heading 86.07).
The Chapter excludes :
(a) Model railway rolling-stock for demonstrational purposes, of heading 90.23.
(b) Heavy artillery mounted on railway trucks (heading 93.01).
(c) Toy trains (heading 95.03).
(d) Equipment not constituting rolling-stock proper, specially designed for use on amusement
park rides, water park amusements or fairground amusements (heading 95.08).

86.01 - Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity or by electric

accumulators.
8601.10 - Powered from an external source of electricity
8601.20 - Powered by electric accumulators
This heading covers all types of electric locomotives in which the required electrical energy is derived
either from powerful accumulators carried on the vehicle, or from an external conductor which may
be either a rail or an overhead cable.
86.02 - Other rail locomotives; locomotive tenders.
8602.10 - Diesel-electric locomotives
8602.90 – Other

(A) LOCOMOTIVES
This group covers all types of rail locomotives other than those powered from an external source
of electricity or by electric accumulators (heading 86.01) whatever the type of power unit (steam
engine, diesel engine, gas turbine, petrol engine, pneumatic power engine, etc).
These include :
(1) Diesel locomotives which are of three types :
(a) Diesel-electric locomotives in which the diesel engine drives a generator to produce
electricity which in turn powers traction motors driving the wheels.
(b) Diesel-hydraulic locomotives in which power from a diesel engine is transmitted to the
wheels using a hydraulic system.
(c) Diesel-mechanical locomotives where power from the diesel engine reaches the
wheels through a clutch or fluid flywheel and gear box.

(2) Steam locomotives of all types, including turbine locomotives using an electric drive, tank
locomotives and fireless locomotives, i.e., those fitted with a steam reservoir instead of a
boiler which is charged from an industrial plant.

*
* *
The heading includes certain locomotives of moderate power which are not equipped with bogies
and are usually fitted with only two driving axles. They are mainly used in stations for moving wagons
and by industrial facilities connected with railways.

(B) LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS

Locomotive tenders are vehicles, coupled to steam locomotives, which carry the water and fuel
required for the boiler. They consist essentially of a frame carried on two or more axles and a
sheet metal superstructure comprising a closed tank for water and a coal bunker or fuel-oil tank.

*
* *

Tractors constructed to travel on both road and rail are excluded (heading 87.01).
86.03 - Self-propelled railway or tramway coaches, vans and trucks, other than those of
heading 86.04.
8603.10 - Powered from an external source of electricity
8603.90 - Other
Self-propelled railway or tramway coaches, vans and trucks differ from locomotives because, in
addition to being equipped with a power unit, they are also designed to carry passengers or freight.
These vehicles may be designed to travel singly, or to be coupled to one or more vehicles of the
same type, or to one or more trailer vehicles.
The main feature of these vehicles is that they are fitted with a control cab either at one or both ends,
or in a raised position (conning-tower) in the middle.
The various types of self-propelled coaches, vans and trucks falling in the heading include :
(A) Electrically-propelled coaches in which electrical energy is received from a stationary external
source, e.g., through a pantograph or trolley in the case of an overhead cable, or through
collector shoes mounted on the bogies in the case of a third rail.
Tramway coaches. These sometimes use two conductor rails placed in a slot rail and current
is collected via a special device known as a “plough”.
(B) Rail-cars, i.e., self-contained vehicles running under their own power and equipped with
diesel or other internal combustion engines, etc.
Some rail-cars are fitted with solid or pneumatic tyres and others are of the rack-rail type.
(C) Self-propelled vehicles functioning by means of storage batteries.
This heading also includes electro-gyro rail vehicles. The principle of this system is based on the
accumulation of kinetic energy in a fast revolving flywheel. This energy is then by means of an
electric generator transmitted to a driving motor in the form of electric current. The scope of this
system is rather limited, but it may be applied in light rail-cars or in trams.
It should be noted that the heading excludes road motor-coaches convertible into rail-cars simply
by changing the wheels and locking the steering, the motor remaining unchanged (heading 87.02).

8603.10
- Powered from an external source of electricity
CLASSIFICATION OPINIONS:
1. Three uncoupled railway coaches, comprised of two electrically-propelled “M-Cars” and
one trailer “T-Car”, each being 22.6 m long, 2.9 m wide, and 3.8 m high. After coupling, the
three coaches, also known as an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), are intended to be used in a
distributed traction system for an urban railway.
A pantograph in the upper part of the T-car provides electricity, which passes through the
main transformer and is transmitted to converters in the M-Cars. The converters transform
the electric current from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) and send it to
inverters, which change the DC into three-phase AC to activate the electric motors.

2. Application of GIRs 1, 2 (a) and 6.

Adoption : 2016
86.04 - Railway or tramway maintenance or service vehicles, whether or not self-propelled
(for example, workshops, cranes, ballast tampers, trackliners, testing coaches and
track inspection vehicles).
The vehicles covered by this heading, whether or not self-propelled, are specially designed for use,
e.g., in the installation, servicing and maintenance of the permanent way and structures alongside
the track.
The heading includes :
(1) Workshop vans and trucks fitted with tools, machine-tools, electric generators, lifting machinery
(jacks, hoists, etc.), welding equipment, chains, cables, etc.
(2) Breakdown and other crane-vehicles; locomotive or coach lifting crane-vehicles; crane-vehicles
for lifting or placing rails; crane-vehicles for loading and unloading at station platforms.
(3) Winch trucks.
(4) Trucks fitted with special equipment for cleaning or tamping ballast.
(5) Trucks fitted with machinery for mixing cement for use on the track (for the foundations of
electric cable pylons, etc.).
(6) Trucks for calibrating weigh-bridges.
(7) Scaffold trucks for the installation and maintenance of electric cables.
(8) Spraying vans for weed-killing.
(9) Self-propelled vehicles for track maintenance (in particular, railway trackliners), equipped with
one or more engines which not only power the working machines mounted thereon
(track-setters, ballast tampers, etc.), and propel the vehicle while work is in progress but also
enable it to travel rapidly along the track, as a self-propelled unit, when the working machines
are not in operation.
(10) Railway testing coaches fitted with special equipment such as automatic instruments for
checking the working of the engine, brakes, etc. (for example, for measuring the load hauled,
detecting defects in the rails, track base, bridges, etc.); track checking coaches which record,
whilst travelling, any track irregularity.
(11) Mechanically-propelled track inspection trolleys, including motorised rail-cycles, used by the
railway staff for track maintenance. They are usually fitted with internal combustion engines,
are self-propelled, and provide a rapid means of transport both for maintenance personnel and
for materials to be carried or picked up along the track.
(12) Non-mechanically-propelled track inspection trolleys, including rail-cycles, used by railway
inspection staff (e.g., hand- or foot-propelled types).

*
* *
When mounted on simple wheeled platforms and not on true railway or tramway underframes (not
constituting, therefore, true railway or tramway rolling-stock), machines, measuring instruments and
other equipment, are excluded from this heading and fall in other more specific headings (headings
84.25, 84.26, 84.28, 84.29, 84.30, etc.).
86.05 - Railway or tramway passenger coaches, not self-propelled; luggage vans, post office
coaches and other special purpose railway or tramway coaches, not self-propelled
(excluding those of heading 86.04).
This heading covers a group of railway or tramway rolling-stock not self-propelled (including
tramway trailer coaches and funicular (cable) railway coaches), of the type usually coupled into
passenger trains.
The heading includes :
(1) Passenger coaches of all kinds, including sleeping cars, restaurant cars, saloon coaches,
recreation coaches (specially fitted for entertainment, dancing, etc.).
(2) Funicular (cable) railway coaches.
(3) Tramway trailer coaches.
(4) Special coaches for underground transportation of miners.
(5) Living coaches for railway staff.
(6) Luggage vans and combined passenger-luggage coaches.
(7) Travelling post office coaches.
(8) Ambulance, hospital, X-ray or similar coaches.
(9) Prison coaches.
(10) Armoured coaches.
(11) Coaches specially equipped with radio or telegraph apparatus.
(12) Instruction coaches fitted with apparatus, machines or scale models (e.g., for instruction of the
staff).
(13) Exhibition coaches.
86.06 - Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons, not self-propelled.
8606.10 - Tank wagons and the like
8606.30 - Self-discharging vans and wagons, other than those of subheading 8606.10
- Other :
8606.91 - - Covered and closed
8606.92 - - Open, with non-removable sides of a height exceeding 60 cm
8606.99 - - Other
This heading covers vehicles for the transport of goods on railway networks (of any gauge). It also
covers small vehicles or trucks for the transport of goods by rail, in mines, on building sites, in
factories, warehouses, etc. These latter generally differ from true wagons, carriages, etc., in that
they are not fitted with springs.
In addition to the usual open wagons and trucks (flat trucks, tipping wagons, etc.) and covered
vans, the heading includes the following specialised types :
(1) Tank wagons and the like (e.g., reservoir wagons, cask wagons).
(2) Insulated or refrigerated vans and wagons.
(3) Self-discharging vans and wagons (tipping wagons, hopper wagons, etc.).
(4) Underslung flat trucks for the transport of heavy goods.
(5) Timber carrying trucks.
(6) Reservoir wagons fitted with stoneware, etc., reservoirs for the transport of chemicals.
(7) Horse boxes.
(8) Double deck wagons (e.g., for carrying cars).
(9) Vans specially equipped for the transport of live poultry or live fish.
(10) Platform trucks for carrying other trucks.
(11) Narrow gauge wagons of all kinds.
(12) Mining wagons.
(13) Trolleys for the transport of rails, girders, etc.
(14) Trucks fitted with rails, for carrying rail-road trailers.
(15) Wagons and trucks specially designed for the transport of highly radioactive products.
“Road-rail” trailers devised for transport by special trucks fitted with guide rails
are excluded (heading 87.16).
86.07 - Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling-stock.
- Bogies, bissel-bogies, axles and wheels, and parts thereof :
8607.11 - - Driving bogies and bissel-bogies
8607.12 - - Other bogies and bissel-bogies
8607.19 - - Other, including parts
- Brakes and parts thereof :
8607.21 - - Air brakes and parts thereof
8607.29 - - Other
8607.30 - Hooks and other coupling devices, buffers, and parts thereof
- Other :
8607.91 - - Of locomotives
8607.99 - - Other

This heading covers parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling-stock, provided the parts
fulfil both the following conditions :

(i) They must be identifiable as being suitable for use solely or principally with the
above-mentioned vehicles;
(ii) They must not be excluded by the provisions of the Notes to Section XVII.

Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling-stock include :

(1) Bogies, with two or more axles, and bissel-bogies consisting of a frame with only one axle.
(2) Straight or cranked axles, whether or not assembled.
(3) Wheels and parts thereof (wheel centres, metal tyres, etc.).
(4) Axle-boxes, also known as lubricating or grease-boxes, and parts thereof (e.g., axle-box
bodies).
(5) All types of brake gear, including :
(a) Hand-brakes, controlled directly from each individual vehicle (lever and screw brakes).
(b) Continuous brakes with a single control for all the vehicles of the train. These include
compressed air and vacuum brakes.
(c) Parts of brake gear including shoes, cylinders, levers, etc.
(6) Buffers.
(7) Coupling gear (e.g., hook, screw or chain type, draft gears); some coupling devices may be
automatic.
(8) Frames and parts thereof (longerons, cross-girders, axle-box guides, etc.); frames cast in one
piece.
(9) Corridor connections and connecting platforms.
(10) Bodies (not mounted on underframes) for motorised or non-self-propelled railway or tramway
rolling-stock (e.g., for coaches, trucks, wagons, etc.); parts of such bodies (e.g., coach or truck
doors, partitions, hinged sides of wagons, side stanchions, running boards, water tanks for
tenders).
(11) Pipes with coupling heads for the braking or heating systems.
(12) Hydraulic shock absorbers for bogies.
It should be noted, however, that angles, shapes, sections, sheets, plates and other parts of frames,
and also tubes and pipes, etc., of base metal, remain classified in Section XV unless they have
been worked to such an extent that they are clearly identifiable as parts of locomotives or
rolling-stock.
86.08 - Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings; mechanical (including electro-
mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways, tramways,
roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations or airfields; parts of the
foregoing.

(A) RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY TRACK FIXTURES AND FITTINGS

This group includes :
(1) Assembled track, i.e., rails already fixed to sleepers or other supports. Such track may be in
the form of junction, switch or cross-over points, curves, straight runs, etc.
(2) Turntables, whether or not electrically operated, i.e., large platforms usually circular, which
can rotate about the centre, and which are fitted with railway or tramway tracks; most are also
equipped with rollers carrying the perimeter of the platform.
Locomotives, etc., can therefore be rotated on the turntable and driven off in a new direction.
The heading also includes hand-operated turntables, for narrow gauge railways on building
sites, quarries, etc.
However, the heading excludes locomotives or wagon traversers which transfer railway
vehicles from one track to another. These and other machines for handling rolling-stock (e.g.,
wagon tippers, wagon pushers) fall in heading 84.28.
(3) Platform buffers, i.e., hydraulic or spring-loaded stopping devices placed at the end of each
run of track to minimise the shock if rolling-stock does not stop before reaching the track
terminal. They are designed either to be embedded into the masonry (e.g., of terminal stations)
or into robust frameworks (e.g., in shunting yards).
(4) Loading gauges, i.e., arch-shaped structures which ensure that trains passing beneath them
do not exceed the maximum clearance height and width prescribed for the route involved.
The heading does not cover wooden sleepers (heading 44.06), concrete sleepers (heading
68.10) or sleepers, rails or other items of unassembled track construction material, of iron or steel
specified in heading 73.02 (see the corresponding Explanatory Note).
Pylons and portals for carrying overhead cables are not regarded as railway or tramway fixtures or
fittings and are classified according to their constituent materials in headings 68.10, 73.08, etc.

(B) MECHANICAL (INCLUDING ELECTRO-MECHANICAL) SIGNALLING,

SAFETY OR TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR RAILWAYS,
TRAMWAYS, ROADS, INLAND WATERWAYS, PARKING FACILITIES,
PORT INSTALLATIONS OR AIRFIELDS
This group covers essentially apparatus in which the signal, etc., is operated from a control point,
generally at some distance, by the movement of levers, cranks, rods, wires, chains, etc., or by
hydro-pneumatic devices or electric motors. Electropneumatically operated equipment (e.g., for
railways) is also classified in this heading. In this type, the signals or points are activated by a
pneumatic power engine, the admission or release of air into or from the motor cylinder being
controlled by an electro-magnetic valve which is in turn controlled by the electric control board in the
signal box. The signal and its pneumatic activating device is regarded as mechanical equipment of
this heading, but the electric control board, etc., is proper to Chapter 85.
The term “signalling equipment” refers to apparatus which can be made to show two or more
aspects each conveying instructions to vehicles, ships or aircraft. It does not cover road, rail, etc.,
sign-plates with no mechanical features (e.g., speed limit, direction or gradient sign-plates); these
are classified according to the constituent material (e.g., in heading 44.21 or 83.10).

Provided they are mechanically or electro-mechanically operated as described above, the

following types of apparatus fall in this group :

(1) Signal box equipment. A complete unit consists of a number of control levers with their
transmission wheels, rods, wires, etc., mounted in a frame. In most cases interlocking devices
are incorporated to prevent signals or points being set in a conflicting manner.
(2) Signal arms, signal discs, complete signal posts or signal gantries.
(3) Controlling or slotting lever mechanisms fitted to interdependent signals to ensure their
co-ordinated action.
(4) Trackside mechanisms (ground frames, etc., of the lever, pedal, crank or other types) for
operating points, signals, etc.
(5) Point detectors. These are activated by the movement of the points themselves; their
movements are transmitted back to the signal box so that the signalman knows that the points
are in the position he intends.
(6) Point locks and locking bars. These devices, fitted to the track itself, ensure that the passage
of a train automatically locks the points, so that they cannot be changed from the signal box
until the train is clear.
(7) Railbrakes. These devices are used to slow down or stop rolling-stock (e.g., to slow shunted
wagons entering a marshalling yard siding). They usually consist essentially of a pair of bars
fitted to each rail of the track; under hydraulic or compressed air control, these bars can be
made to exert braking pressure on the wheels of rolling-stock passing over the track.
(8) Derailers and stop blocks. When slid free of the rail, these allow the passage of a wagon, but
when slid on to the running surface of the rail they act as a stop block or as a deflecting blade
to “jump” a wagon off the track.
(9) Train stops. These usually consist of a T shaped bar device fixed alongside the track and
operated by compressed air. The bar is interconnected with the signal so that when the latter
is at danger, the bar is raised to a position where it will “trip” a brake control lever on any train
overrunning the signal.
(10) Automatic fog-signalling apparatus. These devices, also usually pneumatically operated,
automatically place a fog signal on the track each time the signal is at danger.
(11) Level crossing control gear for raising and lowering, or opening and closing the gates.
This gear usually consists of a hand-operated crank wheel and gearing device, or of a leverage
system operated from the signal box as with signal or point control gear.
Level crossing gates themselves are classified according to their constituent material
(heading 73.08 if made of iron or steel, or heading 44.21 if made of wood), but mechanically
or electro-mechanically operated signals indicating whether the gates are open or shut fall in
this heading.
(12) Hand- or electro-mechanically operated signals designed to show “Stop” and “Go” signs to
road or maritime traffic.

PARTS

The heading also includes identifiable parts of the apparatus referred to above (e.g., turntable
platforms, signal arms and discs, control levers, point lock cases, interlocking slot mechanisms).

*
* *
The heading also excludes :
(a) Chains and other parts of general use as defined in Note 2 to Section XV, of base metal
(Section XV), and similar goods of plastics (Chapter 39); general purpose material (such as
wire and rodding) and metal structures and metal parts of such structures, falling in Section
XV. It should be noted that point rods which run beneath the rails to connect the trackside
control mechanism to the switch blades fall in heading 73.02 together with certain other
specified railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel.
(b) Signal lamps (heading 85.30 or 94.05).
(c) Sirens, fog horns and other sound signalling instruments (classified in their own appropriate
headings).
(d) Apparatus for signalling on board vehicles, ships, etc., (e.g., alarm signalling apparatus on
trains, emergency station signalling apparatus for ships, etc.) (classified in their own appropriate
headings).
86.09 - Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) specially designed and
equipped for carriage by one or modes of transport.
These containers (including lift vans) are packing receptacles specially designed and equipped for
carriage by one or more modes of transport (e.g., road, rail, water or air). They are equipped with fittings
(hooks, rings, castors, supports, etc.) to facilitate handling and securing on the transporting vehicle,
aircraft or vessel. They are thus suitable for the “door-to-door” transport of goods without intermediate
repacking and, being of robust construction, are intended to be used repeatedly.
The more usual type, which may be of wood or metal, consists of a large box equipped with doors, or
with removable sides.

The principal types of container include :

(1) Furniture removal containers.
(2) Insulated containers for perishable foods or goods.
(3) Containers (generally cylindrical) for the transport of liquids or gases. These containers fall in this
heading only if they incorporate a support enabling them to be fitted to any type of transporting
vehicle or vessel; otherwise they are classified according to their constituent material.

(4) Open containers for bulk transport of coal, ores, paving blocks, bricks, tiles, etc. These often have
hinged bottoms or sides to facilitate unloading.

(5) Special types for particular goods, especially for fragile goods such as glassware, ceramics, etc., or
for live animals.
Containers usually vary in size from 4 to 145 m3 capacity. Certain types are however smaller, but their
capacity is not normally less than 1 m3.
The heading excludes :
(a) Cases, crates, etc., which though designed for the “door-to-door” transport of goods are not
specially constructed as described above to be secured to the transporting vehicle, aircraft or
vessel; these are classified according to their constituent material.
(b) Road-rail trailers (intended mainly for use as road trailers, but so designed that they may be
transported on special railway wagons fitted with guide rails) (heading 87.16).

(c) Modular building units (heading 94.06).

_________________

8609.00
Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for
carriage by one or more modes of transport.
CLASSIFICATION OPINIONS:
1. Tube bundle container, consisting of a number of cylinders used for
the transportation of compressed natural gas (CNG). Each cylinder
is equipped with a separate valve and gauge for the discharge and
filling of gas. The cylinders are not welded or permanently combined,
but enclosed within an outer metal frame of the same dimension as
a regular 6 or 12 metre (20 or 40 foot) container. The product is also
equipped with holes on the frame, which makes it possible to be
attached to a road trailer or other modes of transport.

Application of GIR 1.
Adoption : 2017