The Indian Railways has reiterated that passengers travelling with luggage beyond the prescribed free allowance will be required to pay additional charges, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Responding to a query raised by MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, Vaishnaw clarified that the Railways already follows a class-wise baggage policy similar in principle to airlines, under which passengers are permitted a fixed amount of luggage free of cost, with additional weight allowed on payment of charges.
In a written reply, the minister shared the class-wise free luggage allowance and maximum permissible limits. Passengers travelling in Second Class are allowed to carry 35 kg free of cost and up to 70 kg on a chargeable basis. Sleeper Class passengers can carry 40 kg free and up to 80 kg in total.
Those travelling in AC 3 Tier and Chair Car are permitted a maximum of 40 kg, which is also the free allowance. First Class and AC 2 Tier passengers can carry 50 kg free of cost and up to 100 kg after paying charges. AC First Class passengers are allowed 70 kg free and a maximum of 150 kg with additional charges.
“The maximum limit includes the free allowance,” Vaishnaw stated.
He further explained that passengers can carry excess luggage beyond the free allowance inside the compartment, up to the maximum limit for their travel class, by paying 1.5 times the prescribed luggage rate.
The minister also clarified size restrictions for personal luggage. Trunks, suitcases and boxes with dimensions up to 100 cm × 60 cm × 25 cm are allowed inside passenger compartments. Items exceeding any of these dimensions must be booked and transported in the train’s brake van or parcel van.
Vaishnaw added that merchandise or commercial items are not permitted to be carried as personal luggage in passenger compartments. Any luggage beyond the allowed limit must be formally booked and transported in the designated luggage compartments of the train.
The clarification comes amid increasing passenger queries on luggage norms as train travel continues to see high occupancy across major routes.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
