ARE THERE BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS (WEIGHT-WISE AND DIMENSION-WISE) FOR RAIL TRAVELERS?
Yes, there are established rules for baggage restrictions, both in terms of weight in terms and dimensions. However, they are often not enforced effectively, and the reasons for this remain unclear. As a result, law-abiding passengers like us, who follow the regulations, experience considerable discomfort. It's common to see travelers with oversized suitcases, especially on Double Decker and AC Sitting trains, which creates unnecessary inconvenience.
As a frequent traveler, I don't blame the passengers for this issue. The responsibility lies with Indian Railways (IR) and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for not implementing the regulations effectively. Ensuring baggage compliance is essential to maintain order and comfort during travel.
HOW CAN WE RAISE AWARENESS RULES AND REGULATIONS?ABOUT BAGGAGE
There is ample space available, both online and at stations, to provide clear information about the baggage allowance and restrictions. Here’s a breakdown of the current luggage rules based on the class of travel:
First AC: 70 kg
First Class/AC 2-Tier: 50 kg
AC 3-Tier/AC Chair Car/Sleeper Class: 40 kg
Second Class: 35 kg
Luggage Size:
Trunks, suitcases, and boxes can be up to 100 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm.
In AC 3-tier and AC Chair Car compartments, the maximum allowed size is 55 cm x 45 cm x 22.5 cm.
Given these clear rules, the onus is on IR and IRCTC to ensure better enforcement and create awareness.
Suggestions for Improvement
To strengthen the enforcement of baggage rules and avoid inconvenience:
Ticket Information:
The baggage allowance and size restrictions should be printed clearly on counter tickets, with a warning that exceeding the limits could result in a penalty.
For online tickets, the baggage specifications should be displayed prominently under the ticket details.
Revenue Opportunity:
Enforcing penalties for excess baggage not only helps maintain order but also represents a missed opportunity for Indian Railways to generate additional revenue.
It is crucial for the authorities to act on this, as it would enhance passenger comfort, ensure fairness, and contribute to revenue through penalties.
https://contents.irctc.co.in/en/quickBookTicket.html more
As a frequent traveler, I don't blame the passengers for this issue. The responsibility lies with Indian Railways (IR) and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for not implementing the regulations effectively. Ensuring baggage compliance is essential to maintain order and comfort during travel.
HOW CAN WE RAISE AWARENESS RULES AND REGULATIONS?ABOUT BAGGAGE
There is ample space available, both online and at stations, to provide clear information about the baggage allowance and restrictions. Here’s a breakdown of the current luggage rules based on the class of travel:
First AC: 70 kg
First Class/AC 2-Tier: 50 kg
AC 3-Tier/AC Chair Car/Sleeper Class: 40 kg
Second Class: 35 kg
Luggage Size:
Trunks, suitcases, and boxes can be up to 100 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm.
In AC 3-tier and AC Chair Car compartments, the maximum allowed size is 55 cm x 45 cm x 22.5 cm.
Given these clear rules, the onus is on IR and IRCTC to ensure better enforcement and create awareness.
Suggestions for Improvement
To strengthen the enforcement of baggage rules and avoid inconvenience:
Ticket Information:
The baggage allowance and size restrictions should be printed clearly on counter tickets, with a warning that exceeding the limits could result in a penalty.
For online tickets, the baggage specifications should be displayed prominently under the ticket details.
Revenue Opportunity:
Enforcing penalties for excess baggage not only helps maintain order but also represents a missed opportunity for Indian Railways to generate additional revenue.
It is crucial for the authorities to act on this, as it would enhance passenger comfort, ensure fairness, and contribute to revenue through penalties.
https://contents.irctc.co.in/en/quickBookTicket.html more
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View all 11 comments Below 11 comments
We have no dearth of rules & regulations in each and every public institutions but majority of them are rarely implemented and followed up by the concerned. This is applicable in Indian Railways in particular. Compliance of the rules regarding size and weights of passenger luggage would need the railways to make arrangements for booking such luggage conveniently, to say, there should be arrangements for weighing/measuring & booking of the over sized/weighed luggage at the entry pint itself/at a place convenient for the passengers. Simultaneously, railways should also ensure against corruptions. Since majority of tickets are now being purchased online and only soft copies thereof are carried in passengers' mobile phones (railways also often suggests not to carry hard/printed copies of tickets), the effectiveness of printing of the rules on the tickets may not be as effective as it ought to be. more
Sep 20
Luggage restrictions should be enforced strictly because nowadays the author's experience is common more
Sep 17
Start implementation with Chair car trains. Dedicated staff at each station for checking. Penalty + moving the luggage to the luggage compartment. Surprise checks by officials. Complaint number for copassengers with action. more
Sep 17
Basically, it is very clear from this post that staff to check all these parameters should be in place but it is not the case in actual situation. Should there be enough checking staff employed, railways will generate more revenue than the cancellation charges. Also authorised railway passengers will have comfortable journey. In Mumbai local, if same work force is employed, more revenue will come but which does not happen. During last 6 months, I travelled in AC locals quite frequently but only once, I noticed TTE but ticketless travellers were many. So IR should focus on this area which is like golden duck. more
Sep 17
