Indian Railways to slap 600% penalty on excess luggage

The decision comes in the wake of numerous complaints regarding excess baggage being towed into train compartments.

The revival of the old baggage rules will see passengers paying up to six times the stipulated charges as penalty, if caught travelling with overweight luggage, a Railway official said on Tuesday.

According to the baggage rules, a passenger travelling in sleeper class and second class compartments can carry luggage weighing 40 kg and 35 kg, respectively, without paying any extra charges and up to a maximum of 80 kg and 70 kg, respectively, after paying for the excess luggage at the parcel office. The excess luggage would have to be put in the luggage van.

"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 one-and-a-half 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. The move is to ensure passenger convenience and address the issue of cramped compartments," Ved Prakash, director, information and publicity, Railway Board, said.

Railways plans to carry out random checks among the passengers to track excess luggage.

A passenger travelling 500 km with luggage weighing 80 kg in the sleeper class can book his excess baggage of 40 kg for Rs109 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 Rs654.

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.

The 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, Prakash said.

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