Carrying more luggage on the train may now cost you more. For decades, the Indian Railways has been liberal regarding passenger luggage, but it just announced that new luggage carrying regulations will be aggressively enforced.
In other words, just like air travellers, passengers of Indian Railways will also have to pay a fine for carrying excess luggage than the permitted free allowance.
And if you are caught carrying excess luggage without booking it, you will be charged six times the standard fee.
The Ministry of Railways recently encouraged travellers not to travel with extra luggage by posting from its official Twitter handle. “If there is more luggage, then the joy of the journey will be half! Do not travel by train carrying more luggage. In case of excess baggage, go to the parcel office and book the luggage.”
अगर सामान होगा ज्यादा, तो सफर का आनंद होगा आधा!
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 29, 2022
अधिक सामान ले कर रेल यात्रा ना करें। सामान अधिक होने पर पार्सल कार्यालय जा कर लगेज बुक कराएं। pic.twitter.com/gUuishbqr5
How much baggage can you carry for free?
Passengers travelling on Indian Railways’ sleeper class may now take up to 40 kg of bags without paying extra. Similarly, a passenger travelling in second class may carry up to 35 kg of luggage. However, by paying an additional fee, this restriction can be expanded by up to 80 Kg and 70 Kg, respectively.
If you are travelling in AC first class, you can carry up to 70 kg for free, and for AC 2-Tier, the limit is 50 Kg In AC 3-tier sleeper, AC chair car and the sleeper class, carrying baggage up to 40 kilos is allowed. For 2-class, the limit is up to 35 kgs.
However, this limit can also be increased by up to 150 Kg, 100 Kg, 90 Kg, 80, Kg and 70 Kg respectively by paying extra.
Indian Railways Baggage Allowance
The following maximum limit free allowance and marginal allowance are admissible for the carriage of luggage in the compartment :
| Class | Free Allowance | Marginal Allowance | Maximum Qty Permitted |
| AC First Class | 70 Kgs | 15 Kgs | 150 Kgs |
| AC 2-Tier sleeper/First class | 50 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 100 Kgs |
| AC 3-tier sleeper/AC chair car | 40 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 90 Kgs |
| Sleeper class | 40 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 80 Kgs |
| Second class | 35 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 70 Kgs |
Passengers are allowed to book and carry excess luggage beyond the free allowance with them in the compartment up to the maximum limit as per the class mentioned above on payment of charge at 1.5 times of luggage rate.
Fines For Carrying Excess Baggage in Trains
According to the new rules, when a passenger is found with unbooked or partially booked luggage weighing more than the free allowance, the extra unbooked weight is charged at six times the luggage scale rate, rather than six times the scale -R as earlier.
If unbooked or partially booked luggage is found that exceeds the free allowance but falls within the marginal allowance, it is charged at 1.5 times the luggage scale rate.
When a passenger is found with unbooked or partially booked luggage weighing more than the maximum allowed, the additional weight is charged at six times the luggage scale rate, subject to a minimum of ₹50/-.
How to book your luggage?
Luggage which is required to travel by the same train as the owner should be presented at the luggage office of the booking station at least 30 minutes before the advertised departure time of the train.
Passengers booking their accommodation in advance are permitted to book their luggage in advance at the same time. A bulky surcharge is applicable only on packages weighing above 100 kgs or exceeding 1m*1m*0.7m in outside measurement.
It is worth noting that, offensive articles, explosive, dangerous, inflammable articles and empty gas cylinders, dead poultry, game, acids and other corrosive substance are not permitted to be booked as luggage.
Size of baggage!
Trunks, suitcases, and boxes with outer dimensions of 100 cms. x 60 cms. x 25 cms. (length x width x height) will be permitted to be carried as personal luggage in the passenger cabins.
If the trunks, suitcases, and boxes have an outer measurement that exceeds any of the dimensions, they must be booked and transported in the brake van rather than the passengers’ compartment.
The maximum trunk/suitcase-size that may be carried in the AC-3 tire and AC chair car compartment is 55 cm x 45 cm x 22.5 cm.
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