Do you know there are rules in Indian railway for luggage’s? Yes, most Indians don’t give a thought before packing their luggage. But there are certain rules of Indian railway for their luggage’s which they should know. When there are new rules that must be followed, passengers should have knowledge about it first. Clutter has long been an issue in trains, and new Indian railways laws try to make travelling more comfortable by restricting belongings. So, now, just like airlines, Indian railways have also started to limit luggage weight for their passengers.
Luggage Carrying Rule’s History
Indian railways had a rule for allowed luggage carrying weights in effect since the late 1980s. But, as years passed this rule became unuseful. Now, luggage overloading has become a common occurrence on Indian long-distance trains. Every passengers have to keep in mind that when one passenger has a lot of luggage, another passenger must suffer as a result. That’s why Indian railways have opted to apply per-passenger limits, promising that the law will be strictly enforced this time. Train officials plan to put up scanners at all major railway stations across India to track extra luggage.
Here are finer points of the new Indian railways luggage rules:
- AC First-class travellers are allowed to carry up to 70 kg of bags for free and up to 150 kilogrammes for a fee at the parcel office. The maximum luggage weight permitted would be 15 kilogrammes.
- AC Passengers on the second tier will be allowed to carry up to 100 kilogrammes of luggage for free (with a marginal luggage weight allowance of 10 kilogrammes) by paying for the extra weight at the station’s luggage/parcel office.
- Passengers travelling in an AC third or AC Chair Car are permitted to carry up to 40 kg of luggage for free (with a marginal luggage weight allowance of 10 kg) and a maximum carrying limit of 40 kg.
- Second-class passengers are permitted a free luggage allowance of 35 kg (with marginal luggage weight allowance of 10 KG). They can carry a maximum of 70 kilogrammes by paying for excess luggage at the luggage/parcel office.
- Passengers in the sleeper class are permitted a free luggage weight of 40 KG (with a marginal luggage weight limit of 10 KG) and a maximum of 80 KG weighing luggage after paying the excess.
- Children between the ages of 5 and 12 would only be given half of the free luggage allowance for their respective class. In such cases, the weight of the free allotment cannot exceed 50 kg.
- The dimensions for personal luggage have also been established by the railways. The trunks, luggage, or boxes you bring on the train must fit within the following dimensions: 100 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm (length, breadth, height). Luggage that exceeds these dimensions will be sent to the Luggage van (even if they are within the free limit).
How to book for extra luggage?
Excess luggage would be strictly controlled by Indian railways. If a traveller is caught without booked excess luggage, the penalties might be 6 times the original booking rate. So, every passengers have to make sure they have checked the weight of their luggage before leaving the house. If you discover that your luggage exceeds the permitted limit, follow the instructions below:
- Early in the morning, go to the railway station (where you’ll be boarding) and inquire about the Luggage/Parcel office. (You should remember that you need to book t=your luggage 30 minutes before the departure of the train)
- Fill out the additional baggage declaration form and have it weighed.
- Pay the difference in ticket and receive the paper confirming the extra luggage reservation.
- You have to keep the slip safely you will need to show to the TTE when needed.
- Once booked, the extra luggage would be sent to the brake van.The additional luggage will not fit in the ordinary train compartment.
On Indian trains, what types of common luggage are prohibited?
Certain things are prohibited from being carried on the train, while others can only be carried with prior approval.
- As far as personal luggage is concerned, no merchandised items are permitted. These require special arrangements and must be transported in the Luggage Van.
- You’re all aware that explosives and flammable things are prohibited from being transported by train. Similarly, any commodity containing acid or flammable gas or judged unsafe to fellow passengers cannot be transported by rail.
- Birds, fish, dogs, and cats are not permitted in train coaches. You must make a reservation for them at the Parcel Office. Only booking an entire AC First Class coupe is an option.
- Passengers carrying offensive or insulting objects that damage the feelings of fellow passengers can also be considered a breach of the luggage carrying rule.