IRCTC Luggage Rules: Trains Too Have a Luggage Limit!

IRCTC luggage rules that you should know.

Luggage rules prescribed by the Indian Railways.

(Photo: iStock)

We generally don’t worry about the luggage carrying limit when we travel through railways. It is true that while taking a train in India we don’t have to worry about the check-in and check-out of our luggage but there is a certain limit on how much luggage we can carry depending on which class we are travelling by.

According to the India Railways, passengers are allowed to carry excess luggage over their limit on payment of charge at 1.5 times of luggage rate. The free allowance is different for different classes of travel.

Here is a list of luggage carrying limit according to the instruction given by Indian Railways of different classes-

(Source: IndianRailways)

Other than this, children aged 5 and below 12 years are allowed half of the free allowance subject to the maximum of 50 Kgs.

As far as the quantity and type (personal or merchandise) of luggage offered for booking is concerned, there is no restriction on carriage of luggage in brake van of passenger trains, as per instructions.

However, if your luggage exceeds the free allowance marginally, normal luggage charges will be applicable. However, if the luggage is detected to above the marginal allowance a penalty will be charged for that. Make sure to book your excess luggage in the luggage office, pay the charges in advance and get your tickets endorsed by cross-referencing the luggage ticket details, before starting your journey. Free allowance is not admissible for articles such as scooters, cycles etc.

Certain items are not allowed on the trains by the Indian Railways. Offensive articles, explosive, dangerous, inflammable articles and empty gas cylinders, dead poultry, acids and other corrosive substance are not allowed to be booked as luggage.

So the next time you travel via the India Railways make sure you keep these things in mind. Other luggage related information can be found on the website of the Indian Railways.