Now Pay 6-Times Penalty For Excess Luggage On Trains; IRCTC Slashes Food Quantity!

In an unexpected move, Indian Railways has decided to slash food quantity for on-the-go meals served in trains. At the same time, a strict penalty has been announced for those passengers, who carry excess luggage.

To be honest, did you even knew that there is a limit on luggage weight, which can be carried by a passenger on a train? Yes, there exists a 30-year-old rule!

6-Times Penalty Announced For Excess Luggage!

As of now, there is no check on the luggage being carried by rail passengers. Up in the north, and even in western India, we have seen passengers carrying their bicycles, trunks, agricultural produce and more in the trains.

But soon, things will change.

Indian Railways has decided to strictly execute a 30-year old law regarding the luggage which a passenger can carry inside the coach, and how much can be parked in the luggage van.

During random checks, if any passenger is found to be carrying additional luggage, then penalty up to 6-times will be imposed.

Unlike air-travel, passengers are not checked for their luggage before boarding the train, and as of now, only random checks would be done to nab the defaulters.

Ved Prakash, Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said,

“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,”

Here is the breakdown of the luggage weight allowed.

Passengers of AC 1st Class

• Allowed weight inside coach: 70 KG
• Weight allowed in the luggage van: 80 KG (fees need to be paid separately)
• Total weight allowed: 150 KG

Passengers of AC 2nd Class

• Allowed weight inside coach: 50 KG
• Weight allowed in the luggage van: 50 KG (fees need to be paid separately)
• Total weight allowed: 100 KG

Passengers of Sleeper Class

• Allowed weight inside coach: 40 KG
• Weight allowed in the luggage van: 40 KG (fees need to be paid separately)
• Total weight allowed: 80 KG

Passengers of General Class

• Allowed weight inside coach: 35 KG
• Weight allowed in the luggage van: 35 KG (fees need to be paid separately)
• Total weight allowed: 70 KG

Now, say a passenger of Sleeper Class is travelling for 500 km, and say, he is carrying 80 kgs of luggage.

To avoid any fine, he can carry 40 Kg in the coach, and place the remaining 40 KG in the luggage van by paying Rs 109 as the fees.

In case he fails to do so, then the TT can impose a penalty of Rs 654 (Rs 109 * 6)

IRCTC Slashes Food Quantity To Focus On Quality

In a related news, IRCTC has decided to slash food quantity served in the meals to passengers. It has been decided that by reducing the quantity, the quality will be improved.

Note here, that a 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General report found that the quality of food being served in the trains is going downstream, and it has been improved.

For instance, from now, the quantity of dal being served has been reduced to 100 gm from 150 gm; 120 gms of boneless chicken would be now served.

One of the officials said,

“IRCTC has sent its proposal to the Railway Board, the top decision-making body of the Indian Railways. Once approved, the new services will be first introduced in 27 Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.”

We will keep you updated, as we receive more inputs.