Six time fine for not booked excess baggage

Thiruvananthapuram: The Railways has decided to enforce its luggage rules invoking existing stringent provisions, charging up to six times the rates on unbooked excess baggage.    As per instructions, there is no restriction on carriage of luggage in brake van on passenger trains as far as quantity and type (personal or merchandise) of luggage offered for booking is concerned. However, the excess luggage in owner's charge beyond the free allowance is charged at 1.5 times the rates under scale-L.

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 50 kg. Passengers are also permitted a marginal allowance.    

Passenger are allowed to book and carry excess luggage beyond the free allowance with them in the compartment up to the maximum limit as per class mentioned above on payment of charge at 1.5 times of luggage rate. When a passenger is detected either en route or at the destination with unbooked or partially booked luggage weighing more than the free allowance, the excess unbooked weight exceeding free allowance of luggage is charged six times the luggage scale rate instead of 6 times of scale -R as earlier.

However, if unbooked or partially booked luggage is detected more than the free allowance of the luggage but within the marginal allowance, it is charged at 1.5 times the luggage scale rate.When a passenger is detected either en route or at destination with unbooked or partially booked luggage weighing more than the maximum limit permitted, the excess weight exceeding free allowance of luggage is charged at six times of the luggage scale rate subject to a minimum of Rs 50.

Luggage beyond the above quantity can be booked in advance and carried in brake Van. If your luggage marginally exceeds the free allowance, you will be charged at the normal luggage rates applicable to your class of travel. Above marginal allowance penalty will be charged, if detected. “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 journey. Free allowance is not admissible for articles such as scooters and cycles”, says the official site.