Luggage Rules
from various IR timetables and other publications
These are some of the rules for luggage as found in various zonal timetables and other IR publications. These are not complete and may not be up to date and are provided here only as an indication of the flavour of various types of restrictions applicable, and should not be taken as accurate or authoritative.
Rules for luggage
The personal effects of a passenger which are normally required in the course of travel and immediately thereafter alone will be booked as luggage. Some bulky articles, offensive goods, explosives, and dangerous goods will not be booked as luggage. General merchandise, and heavy articles in considerable quantity intended for commercial business shall not be accepted as luggage and should be booked as parcels.
Each passenger is allowed a free allowance up to which he can carry luggage with him in the compartment, free of cost. The free allowance varies for different classes of travel. Children aged 5 and below 12 years are allowed half of the free allowance subject to the maximum of 50kg. You are also permitted a marginal allowance. There is a maximum ceiling on the luggage which can be carried inside the compartment for each class. These are indicated in the table below.
| Class | Free allowance | Marginal allowance | Maximum quantity permitted (including free allowance) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC First Class | 70 Kgs | 15 Kgs | 150 Kgs |
| AC 2-Tier sleeper/First class | 50 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 100 Kgs. |
| AC 3-tier sleeper/AC chair car | 40 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 40 Kgs. |
| Sleeper class | 40 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 80 Kgs. |
| Second class | 35 Kgs | 10 Kgs | 70 Kgs. |
If your luggage marginally exceeds the free allowance, you will be charged at the normal luggage rates applicable to your class of travel. Make sure to book your excess luggage in the luggage office, pay the prescribed charges and get your tickets endorsed by cross-referencing the luggage ticket details, before commencing your journey. Free allowance is not admissible for articles such as scooters, cycles etc.
Trunks, suitcases, and boxes having outside measurements which exceed 100cm in length, 60cm in breadth, and 25cm in height should not be carried in the passenger compartments and should be booked in the brake van. The maximum size of trunks or suitcases that can be carried in the AC 3-tier compartments is 55cm x 45cm x 22cm.
Only one scooter, motor-cycle, or moped can be booked as luggage (in the brake van) on one ticket.
Air-conditioned and First Class passengers are permitted to carry a tiffin basket (including small ice-boxes), small handbags, and attache cases (not suitcases) free of charge.
Rules for carrying pets, dogs, horses, other live animals and birds
- Under section 77-A of the Indian Railway Act, the liability of Railways as carriers of animals is limited as specified below, unless the sender elects to pay the percentage charge on value as shown in the Rule 1301:- Per Head Elephants Rs.1500/-; Horses Rs.750/-; Mules, Camels or Horned Cattle Rs.200/-; Donkeys, Sheep, Goats, Dogs and other animals or Birds Rs.30/-.
- The sender or his authorized agent is required to declare the value of each animal on the Forwarding Note when the value of an animal exceeds the amount specified above. The sender or his authorized agent must also record in the Forwarding Note whether he engages to pay the notified percentage charge on value. Should he elect not to pay the notified percentage value on value, the animal will be accepted for carriage under the terms and conditions of Section 77-A of Indian Railway Act.
- The Railway will not be liable for the loss, destruction or damage arising from freight or restiveness of the animal or from overloading of vehicle or wagon by the consigner or his agent or delay not caused by the negligence or misconduct of their servants, irrespective of whether the sender has engaged to pay the percentage charge on value or not.
- Railway will not be responsible for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of animals after the termination of transit as defined in Rule 153.