In Shorts
- Passengers must pay extra for luggage above the free allowance on trains.
- Class-wise baggage limits and maximum weights have been clarified by the Railways.
- Larger items beyond specified dimensions must be booked in brake vans or parcel services.
NEW DELHI. The Indian Railways has reaffirmed that passengers must pay charges for carrying luggage that goes beyond the free allowance limits while traveling by train, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha. The clarification came in response to a question raised in Parliament about whether the Railways would introduce airport-style baggage norms for train travel.
According to the Railway Ministry’s latest explanation, each travel class has a prescribed amount of luggage that passengers can carry without incurring extra fees. For travelers in second class, up to 35 kilograms of baggage is permitted free, with an option to carry up to 70 kilograms on payment of extra charges. In sleeper class, the free limit is set at 40 kilograms, with a maximum permissible weight of 80 kilograms at a charge. AC three-tier and chair car passengers can bring up to 40 kilograms, while AC two-tier and first class AC travelers have higher limits, including paid allowances extending to 100 kilograms and 150 kilograms respectively.
Vaishnaw explained that passengers may book and carry excess luggage with them in the compartment up to the maximum allowable weight for their class, provided they pay charges equivalent to one and a half times the standard luggage rate. This fee structure applies to luggage carried along with the passenger inside the coach.
The minister also offered guidance on size restrictions. Trunks, suitcases and boxes with outside dimensions of up to 100 cm by 60 cm by 25 cm can be taken into compartments as personal baggage. Items exceeding these measurements must be booked separately and transported in the brake van or parcel vans, not carried in passenger seating areas.
Officials highlighted that these norms are designed to make travel more comfortable and reduce congestion caused by oversized or excess baggage in passenger coaches. Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and book any additional luggage through official parcel or luggage booking counters before starting their journey.
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