Railways dusts off 30-year-old rule, will impose hefty penalty on excess baggage

NEW DELHI: Just like air travel, carrying excess luggage while travelling in trains is going to cost passengers dear as they may have to pay a hefty penalty with the railway board deciding to strictly enforce it's around 30-year-old baggage allowance norm.

The board has decided run a campaign to implement the rule after getting numerous complaints regarding excess baggage being towed into train compartments causing inconvenience to fellow travellers.

Travellers are allowed to book and carry excess luggage beyond the free allowance with them in the compartment up to the maximum limit prescribed as per class on payment of charge at 1.5 times of luggage rate.

However, the rules suggest imposing a penalty which would be six times the luggage rate in case of non-disclosure of extra luggage by the passenger.

Officials said unlike at the airports, where the luggage of each passenger is weighed, railways will carry out random checks on passengers.

The norms say that 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 the excess luggage at the parcel office. The excess luggage would have to be put in the luggage van.

There is also a provision of marginal allowance --10 kg in both sleeper and second class.

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.

However, if he fails to do so and is caught with the excess luggage, he will end up paying a penalty of Rs 654.

Similarly, an AC first class passenger can carry 70 kg of luggage for free and a maximum of 150 kg, after paying a fee for the excess 80 kg.

An AC two-tier passenger can carry 50 kg of luggage for free and a maximum of 100 kg by paying a fee for the excess 50 kg.

Railways will also ensure that trunks, suitcases and boxes adhere to the prescribed measurements of 100cm x 60cm x 25cm (length, breadth, height) for personal luggage to be carried in the compartments.

If the trunks, suitcases and boxes exceed any one of the dimensions, those would have to be booked and carried in the luggage van.

The transporter has launched a special drive (June 1-6) across all its zones to enforce the rules.

"As of now, we are creating awareness among passengers and not imposing fines," said Ved Prakash, director, information and publicity, railway board.

He added, "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 1.5 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," he said.

Though the move is aimed at ensuring comfortable journey, it may lead to harassment of passengers and may further dent the image of the transporter already under criticism due to train delays.