An improved method is used to control the pressure in the IAR pipe of a train. The train is typically equipped with an independent brake handle, a control reservoir, an IAR control portion and a computer for controlling the IAR control portion generally according to position of the brake handle. The method involves the steps of: moving the brake handle to a point along its range of motion; and storing in the computer as a setpoint the value desired for the pressure within the IAR pipe. At whichever point the brake handle occupies along its range of motion, there is a particular pressure setpoint corresponding thereto. The method next includes the steps of: directing the computer to modify the actual pressure in the control reservoir to the setpoint thereby also causing the actual IAR pipe pressure to approach the setpoint. As the actual IAR pipe pressure approaches the setpoint, the computer is directed to adjust the actual control reservoir pressure to a value slightly above (if desiring to increase IAR pipe pressure) or below (if desiring to decrease IAR pipe pressure) the setpoint until the actual IAR pipe pressure reaches the setpoint. While monitoring the actual IAR pipe pressure, the computer then adjusts the actual control reservoir pressure to maintain the actual IAR pipe pressure at the setpoint corresponding to the position of the independent brake handle.