Railways opt for airline rule extra charges and a penalty on carrying extra luggage. It it said that the Indian Railways had decided to enforce this 30 year old rule to charge passengers for carrying excess baggage in trains.
For decades, the railways have been not at all strict about passenger luggage, so much so that many passengers are not even aware how much baggage they are allowed to carry. The officials say that the looseness of the rule
has led to enormous quantities of luggage being carried, and a resulting barrage of complaints from fellow passengers.
Same like airlines, railway rules say there are extra charges for the excess baggage, though at a lower rate. Extra luggage has to be booked in advance, and it has to be stowed in the luggage van.
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.
“The rules were already in place, we are just enforcing them strictly now,” Ved Prakash, a senior official of the Railway Board’s Information department was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.
According to the rules, a passenger in first class air-conditioned compartment is allowed 70 kg of luggage for free and a maximum of 150 kg. An AC two-tier passenger can carry 50 kg of luggage for free and a maximum of 100 kg. A sleeper class and a second class passenger can carry luggage weighing upto 40 kg and 35 kg. The maximum baggage allowed is 80 kg and 70 kg.
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 all over its zones to enforce the rules.