Now, rail passengers to pay six-time penalty for carrying excess luggage

Just like air travel, now rail travellers will also have to pay for carrying excess luggage in trains.  Indian Railways has decided to strictly enforce its over-three-decades-old baggage allowance rules, which allows railways to penalise the travellers with six times penalty over the stipulated amount, if caught travelling with overweight luggage.
According to rules, a sleeper class and a second-class passenger can carry luggage weighing 40 kg and 35 kg respectively without paying any extra money and a maximum of 80 kg and 70 kg respectively by paying for the excess luggage at the parcel office. The national transporters will also ensure that luggage size adhere to the prescribed measurements of 100cm x 60cm x 25cm (length, breadth, height).
“The rules were already in place, we are just enforcing them strictly now. 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,” Railways said.
“The move is to ensure passenger convenience and address the issue of cramped compartments, it said.
However, unlike airports, where the each luggage is weighed, railways will carry out random checks inside the trains.  For example, if a passenger is travelling 500 km with luggage weighing 80 kg in the sleeper class, he can book his excess baggage of 40 kg for Rs 109 in the luggage van.

Source- The Economic Times