Railways to strictly enforce excess luggage rules with heavy fines, size restrictions
India Railways has decided to crack down on excess luggage.
As a result of numerous complaints regarding excess baggage being towed into train compartments, the Railways has decided to strictly enforce its over-three-decades-old baggage allowance rules. The rules provide for passengers paying up to six times the stipulated amount as penalty if caught travelling with luggage above the alloted limit, an official said on Tueasday.
According to the prescribed norms, a sleeper class and a second class passenger can carry luggage weighing 40 kg and 35 kg respectively without paying any extra money and a maximum of 80 kg and 70 kg respectively by paying for excess luggage at the parcel office. The excess luggage would have to be put in the luggage van.
“The rules were already in place, we are just enforcing them strictly now. Passengers are allowed to book and carry excess luggage in the luggage van, up to the maximum limit, on the payment of a fee equivalent to one-and-a-half times the luggage rate.
“If a passenger is found travelling with un-booked luggage weighing more than the free allowance, the excess weight will be charged six times the luggage rate. The move is to ensure passenger convenience and address the issue of cramped compartments,” Ved Prakash, Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said.
Officials said unlike at the airports, where the luggage of each passenger is weighed, the railways will carry out random checks among the passengers.
For example, if a passenger is travelling 500 km with luggage weighing 80 kg in the sleeper class, he can book his excess baggage of 40 kg for Rs 109 in the luggage van.