New Delhi: Indian Railways is set to enforce a rule that has hardly ever been followed in its long history. Passengers will now have to abide by the luggage rules that specify how much weight one can carry, depending on the class of travel.
Those with heavier bags, will have to pay or even get them booked in the luggage van attached to nearly all trains.
The railways has clarified that not only the weight but also the size of the bags will matter. If a bag is too large and occupies extra space inside the coach, the passenger may face a penalty. This means even if the weight is within limits, oversized baggage can still cause problems for causing inconvenience to others.
This is to improve safety and passenger convenience, the Railways says. Just as in airports, luggage will now be weighed at major railway stations. If passengers carry more than the permitted weight, they will have to pay additional charges, similar to air travel.
The North Central Railway has decided to begin this system from key stations in the Prayagraj division. These include Prayagraj Junction, Prayagraj Chheoki, Subedarganj, Kanpur Central, Mirzapur, Tundla, Aligarh Junction, Govindpuri, and Etawah stations. Soon, electronic luggage machines will be installed here. Passengers will have to get their bags weighed before entering the platform.
Indian Railways has fixed free luggage limits depending on the travel class:
First AC: Up to 70 kg
Second AC: Up to 50 kg
Third AC: Up to 40 kg
Sleeper Class: Up to 40 kg
General/Second Sitting: Up to 35 kg
Passengers are allowed to carry up to 10 kg more than the limit without booking. But if luggage exceeds that, they must book it as “luggage” at the station counter.
If a passenger is found with luggage beyond the booking limit, they will have to pay a penalty. This fine will be 1.5 times higher than the normal luggage rate. So, carrying extra baggage without booking can actually burn a hole in the pocket.
“The rules always existed but were not strictly enforced. Many travelers carry excessive luggage, causing inconvenience to others and creating safety risks. At times, the entry and exit points are blocked and this causes a risk to passengers trying to get on or off the trains,” an official said.
