Luggage : Procedures in Trains
There are specific luggage regulations set by Indian Railways for passengers travelling in trains, especially in reserved coaches. They are listed below.
Luggage Procedures in Trains by Indian Railway
| Class | Free Allowance (Maximum Limit) | Marginal Allowance for Luggage | Maximum Limit (Kgs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC First Class | 70 Kgs | 15 Kgs | 150 Kgs |
| AC 2-Tier sleeper/First class | 50 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 100 Kgs |
| AC 3-tier sleeper/AC chair car | 40 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 40 Kgs |
| Sleeper class | 40 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 80 Kgs |
| Second class | 35 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 70 Kg |
General Luggage Procedures in Trains
Following are the General Luggage Procedures in Trains by Railway
- Luggage which is not fully and legibly ✅ addressed in English or Hindi will not be accepted for booking and carriage by train.
- Luggage which is not ✅ securely packed will not be accepted for booking and carriage unless the sender or his authorized agent executes a forwarding note and record there in such defects or improper packing.
- Luggage which is required to travel by the same train with the owner should be presented at the luggage office of the booking station at least ✅ 30 minutes before the advertised departure time of the train .
- Passengers booking their ✅ accommodation in advance are permitted to book their luggage in advance at the same time.
- Offensive articles, explosive, dangerous, inflammable articles and empty gas cylinders, dead poultry, and game, acids and other corrosive substance are not permitted to be booked as luggage.
- Oxygen cylinder with its supporting stand with patients under medical certificate can be permitted to be carried in all classes. Free allowance of luggage will be granted on oxygen cylinder and its supporting stand.
- ✅ Merchandized items are not permitted for booking and carriage in the compartment as personal luggage.
Prohibited Items to Carry in Parcel / Luggage
The following list provides information about items that are not allowed to be transported in parcels or luggage.
List of hazardous things
- Offensive articles
- Explosive, dangerous, inflammable articles
- Empty gas cylinders
- Dead poultry
- Game
- Acids
- Corrosive substances.
- Dogs are not allowed to be carried in AC Sleeper Coaches, ACC chair car coaches sleeper class and second class coaches. If a dog is found being carried in contravention of this rule, it will be removed immediately to the brake-van and charges will be levied six times the Luggage Scale Rate subject to a minimum of Rs.50/-
- General merchandise, and heavy articles in considerable quantity intended for commercial business shall not be accepted as luggage and should be booked as parcels.
Bulky Surcharge
- The bulky surcharge is applicable only on a package weighing above 100 kgs or exceeding 1m*1m*0.7m in outside measurement.
- Package s exceeding any one of the dimensions specified will be treated as bulky even though the actual weight is less than 100 kgs on a volumetric basis.
- However, if one of the dimension is exceeded by 10% of the prescribed measurement but weight is within 100 kgs., on a volumetric basis, it will not be treated as bulky.
- The bulky surcharge will be levied at double the normal rate.
Trunks, Suitcase and Boxes Size
- Trunks, suitcase and boxes having outside measurement of 100 cms. x 60 cms x 25 cms (length x breadth x height) will be allowed to be carried in the passenger compartments as personal luggage.
- If the trunks, suitcase, and boxes, which in outside measurement exceed any one of the dimension, such articles are required to be booked and carried in the brake van and not in the passengers’ compartment. Maximum size of the trunks/suitcase than can be carried in the AC-3 tire and AC chair Car compartment is 55 cmsx45 cms x 22.5 cms.
Brake Van Facility
Luggage brake van in Indian Railway is a carrier of parcels booked by the customers.
- Luggage of larger dimension is to be carried only by brake van. The minimum charge for luggage is ₹ 30.
- Small parcels like bundles of books, merchant cloth baggage, motorcycle, fish boxes, dead body boxes etc are carried by brake van. For bulk items, there are goods trains or blue parcel Vans.
- As per instructions, there is no restriction on the carriage of luggage in the brake van of passenger trains as far as quantity and type (personal or merchandise) of luggage offered for booking is concerned.
- However, the excess luggage in the owner’s charge beyond the free allowance is charged at 1.5 times the rates under scale-L.
Free Allowance of Luggages in Trains
If passengers luggage exceeds the free allowance, will be charged at normal rates if it is only slightly over the limit. If it exceeds the allowance by a larger margin, an additional penalty will be applied if detected. Passengers must book their excess luggage at the Luggage Office, pay the applicable charges, and get their tickets endorsed with the luggage details before starting the journey. Each passenger is allowed a free allowance up to which he can carry luggage with him in the compartment, free of cost.
- Free allowance is not permitted for items such as scooters, cycles, and similar articles.
- The free allowance varies for different classes of travel.
- Children aged 5 and below 12 years are allowed half of the free allowance subject to the maximum of 50 Kgs.
- Passengers are also permitted a marginal allowance. There is a maximum ceiling on the luggage which can be carried inside the compartment for each class.
Luggage is Lost or Damage
If passenger’s booked luggage is lost or damaged and its value was not declared in advance, the Railways will compensate up to ₹100 per kilogram. If the value of the luggage was declared beforehand and the percentage charges were paid, compensation will be provided based on the declared value, but it will not exceed that declared amount. Passengers can enquire about the settlement procedure at the Luggage Booking Office.
Theft of Luggage in Trains
If a passenger’s luggage is stolen during the journey, the passenger can contact the train conductor, coach attendant, guard, or GRP escort. They will provide the passenger with an FIR Form, which must be filled out and handed back to them. The complaint will then be forwarded to the police station for further action. The passenger does not need to interrupt the journey to file a police complaint. Assistance can also be sought from the RPF Assistance Posts available at major railway stations.
FAQs
✅ I want to carry my dog with me in train but I don’t know the procedure n documentation required. Please help me with it?
Parcel on the basis of weights indicated below, subject to a minimum charge of ✅ ₹10/- per dog, charges being Prepaid: When carried in break van (Dog-Box) ✅ 30 Kgs When carried in passengers compartments 60 Kgs “Seeing Eye” dog traveling with a blind person in the compartment (First class) will, however, be charged the same tariff as for dogs carried in brake van. The dogs must be provided with Collars and Chains. Owners should make their own arrangements for food and water for the dog during the journey. Dogs detected unbooked will be charged at six times the Luggage Scale Rate subject to a minimum of ✅ ₹ 50/-.
✅ Which are all the things you cannot take in the train?
- Offensive articles.
- Explosive, dangerous, inflammable articles.
- Empty gas cylinders.
- Dead poultry.
- Game.
- Acids.
- All corrosive substances.
✅ How can I book my Luggage in Trains?
Luggage which is required to travel by the same train with the owner should be presented at the luggage office of the booking station at least 30 minutes before the advertised departure time of the train. Passengers booking their accommodation in advance are permitted to book their luggage in advance at the same time.
✅ Can we carry fish in train?
The only way to carry fist in trains is to book an entire AC First Class coupe, otherwise prior booking in the Parcel office required.
✅ Can I carry alcohol in train in India?
Alcohol is an inflammable substance and not permitted in trains.
✅ Is gas stove allowed in train?
No, you can’t carry gas stove in trains.
✅ What if my luggage gets stolen en route?
In case of theft of luggage, robbery/dacoity in running trains, you can approach train conductors/coach attendants/guards or GRP escort. They will given you the FIR Forms, which may be duly filled-in and handed over to them. The compliant will then be forwarded to the Police Station for necessary action. You need not break your journey to lodge a complaint with the police. You can also approach the RPF Assistance Post at major railway stations, for any assistance in lodging the complaint.
✅ If my booked luggage is lost or damaged, how much compensation will I get?
Where value of the luggage booked has not been declared beforehand by the consignor and the prescribing percentage charges not paid, the monetary liability of the Railways has been limited to Rs.100/- per kg. However, where the consignor has declared the value of the consignment and has also paid percentage charges, he will be entitled to get the claimed amount which will not exceed the value of the luggage so declared at the time of booking. The procedure of payment of percentage charge can be enquired from the Luggage Booking Office.
