During rail travel across the country, passengers are often seen boarding coaches carrying heavy suitcases, sacks and big bags. During festival or wedding seasons at busy stations like Lucknow, New Delhi, Patna, Prayagraj or Mumbai, passengers load as much luggage as per their convenience in the train. However, most of the passengers are not aware that like airplanes, Indian Railways also has a strict and legal limit for carrying luggage as per each coach and class. According to Railway Board rules, a passenger is allowed to carry luggage up to a certain weight without any extra charge, depending on the class of ticket, which is called 'Free Allowance'. Railway commercial inspectors and TTE can impose heavy fines on passengers for carrying luggage in excess of this limit without advance booking. First AC and Second AC: Free luggage allowance of 70 to 50 kg. As per railway rules, passengers traveling in higher class are given maximum allowance in carrying luggage. If you have a confirmed AC First Class (1st AC) or Executive Class ticket, personal baggage up to 70 kg per passenger can be carried completely free of charge i.e. as free allowance. Apart from this, an additional marginal discount of 15 kg is also available, that is, you can carry a maximum of 150 kg of luggage by booking it from the parcel office at a pre-determined rate. Whereas the free luggage allowance for citizens traveling in AC 2-tier (2nd AC) has been fixed at 50 kg. In Second AC, passengers are entitled to carry a maximum of 100 kg of luggage in parcel van or coach on payment of prescribed fee. If the goods are within this free limit, there is no extra cost for any kind of inspection. Third AC, AC Chair Car and Sleeper Class: What are the limits for general passengers? The luggage limit has been kept slightly lower in the most preferred categories of middle class passengers i.e. AC 3-Tier (3rd AC) and AC Chair Car (CC). In both these categories, each passenger is allowed to carry a maximum of 40 kg of luggage without any charges. Maximum free allowance of 40 kg is available in Third AC and with additional booking 40 kg can be carried i.e. total up to 80 kg. On the other hand, even in the sleeper class with the highest number of passengers in the country, the free luggage allowance is fixed at only 40 kg, while the maximum limit is fixed at 80 kg. For passengers traveling in second class i.e. General Unreserved compartment, this free limit has been kept at a minimum of 35 kg, while they can book and carry a maximum of 70 kg of luggage. On half tickets for children also, half the free limit is applicable proportionately as per their age and category. Bag size and conditions to be kept inside the coach: Along with weight, Railways has also made strict standards regarding the size or dimensions of the suitcase or trunk to be kept inside the coach. The length of the trunk or suitcase to be kept under the seat or berth in sleeper and AC compartments should not exceed 100 cm, width 60 cm and height 25 cm. If the size of any bag exceeds this prescribed limit, even if its weight is within the free allowance, it is not allowed to be kept under the seat in the passenger compartment. Such heavy or oversized luggage must compulsorily go to the parcel counter at the station and get booked in the brake van or luggage bogie. TTE can register immediate objection on luggage obstructing the movement of other co-passengers en route. 6 times fine on extra luggage without booking and parcel process If a passenger is caught carrying luggage weighing more than his prescribed free allowance limit in a coach without any receipt or parcel booking, then strict financial penalty is imposed on him under the Railways Act. If excess weight is found during travel, a penalty of up to 6 times the applicable luggage scale rate may be charged. To avoid this problem, passengers should go to the luggage or parcel office of the station at least 30 to 45 minutes before the departure of the train and get a luggage ticket made by paying a nominal fee for the extra weight. Apart from this, it is completely illegal to carry gunpowder, inflammable substances, gas cylinders, acid, firecrackers, smelly objects and any type of prohibited weapons in the passenger compartment of the train. Being caught with such dangerous goods not only imposes a fine but also has a provision for legal action and jail under non-bailable sections by the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
