Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 31: Indian Railways on Friday introduced an online facility enabling passengers to book and pay for excess luggage while reserving their train tickets, eliminating the need to visit parcel offices separately before travel.
The new service integrates excess luggage booking with the online ticket reservation system, making the process more convenient for passengers carrying baggage beyond the free allowance.
Earlier, passengers had to complete a separate booking process at railway parcel counters before boarding, often involving additional paperwork and long queues.
The facility is available only to passengers holding confirmed tickets and applies to travel classes where carrying luggage beyond the free allowance is permitted on payment of the prescribed charges.
Passengers travelling in AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, First Class, Sleeper Class and Second Class can avail of the service. However, the facility is not available for passengers travelling in AC 3-Tier and AC Chair Car, as the maximum permissible baggage limit in these classes is the same as the free luggage allowance.
Under existing baggage rules, AC First Class passengers can carry up to 70 kg free of charge and a maximum of 150 kg after paying excess luggage charges.
Passengers in AC 2-Tier and First Class are entitled to 50 kg of free luggage, with a maximum permissible limit of 100 kg.
Sleeper Class passengers can carry 40 kg free and up to 80 kg in total, while Second Class passengers are allowed 35 kg free and a maximum of 70 kg.
Passengers in AC 3-Tier and AC Chair Car can carry up to 40 kg, which also serves as the maximum permissible limit.
Indian Railways clarified that passengers carrying baggage beyond the free allowance but within the prescribed maximum limits will have to pay the applicable excess luggage charges.
The Railways also continues to enforce size restrictions for luggage carried inside coaches. Trunks, suitcases and boxes measuring up to 100 cm × 60 cm × 25 cm are generally permitted inside passenger compartments.
For AC 3-Tier and AC Chair Car passengers, the permissible luggage size is restricted to 55 cm × 45 cm × 22.5 cm.