Do train passengers need to pay for excess luggage?

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said in Lok Sabha that passengers must pay fees if they bring more luggage than the allotted free allocation when travelling by a train. Vaishnaw was answering queries posed by MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, who wanted to know if Railways will adopt strict baggage regulations for train passengers on the lines of practice being followed at airports.

In his reply, Vaishnaw said, “At present, class-wise maximum limit has been prescribed for carriage of luggage by the passenger along with him/her inside the compartments.” He said that the passengers are charged if they exceed the prescribed luggage limits, referring to a practice followed by airlines at airports.

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What is the maximum limit of luggage that can be carried in a railway compartment?

Class-wise free allowance and maximum limit prescribed for carriage of luggage inside the compartment is as under (as per Vaishnaw):

Vaishnaw explained that the maximum limit includes free allowance.

What are the charges if a passenger exceeds prescribed luggage limits in a railway compartment?

Vaishnaw said that passengers are allowed to book and carry excess luggage beyond free allowance with him/her in the compartment up to the maximum limit as per class as tabulated above on the payment of charges at 1.5 times of the luggage rate.

What is included in the personal luggage list of a Railway passenger?

Trunks, suitcases and boxes having outside measurement of 100 cmx60 cmx25 cm are allowed to be carried in passenger compartments as personal luggage, says Vaishnaw.

What if trunks and suitcases are of a larger dimension than the prescribed limits?

If the trunks, suitcases and boxes which outside measurement exceed any one of the dimensions, such articles are required to be booked and carried in the brakevan (SLRs)/parcel vans and not in the passenger’s compartments, says Vaishnaw, adding that merchandised items are not allowed for booking and carriage in the compartment as personal luggage.

“Over and above the prescribed limit mentioned above, excess luggage is carried in Brake van (SLRs) of the trains subject to the maximum limit prescribed to be booked in brake vans as luggage,” the Minister said in his reply.