Railway Baggage Crackdown: Ashwini Vaishnaw Confirms Airport-Style Fees for Overweight Bags
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Penalty Pricing: How the 1.5x Surcharge Works for Unbooked Excess Luggage
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Brake Van Booking: The Only Way to Carry Heavy Merchandise or Bulky Boxes
If you thought you could pack your entire life into a train coach for free, think again. The thing is, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw just clarified that Indian Railways is getting serious about luggage limits to clear up aisle space and improve safety.
Actually, every passenger has a “Free Allowance” and a “Maximum Limit.”5 Specifically, if you’re in Sleeper Class, you can carry 40kg for free.6 As a result, you can push that up to 80kg, but only if you pay for the extra 40kg in advance. Consequently, anything beyond that 80kg cap isn’t allowed in the coach at all—it has to go to the brake van (those too).
And here’s the kicker. The penalty for getting caught with unbooked extra bags is steep.
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Basically, if a TTE catches you with overweight luggage that wasn’t declared, you’ll be charged at 1.5 times the standard luggage rate.9 Instead of a small fee, it becomes a significant “excess charge.”10 In fact, even the dimensions of your bags are now under the scanner. And then Y followed. Trunks or suitcases larger than 100cm x 60cm x 25cm are officially banned from compartments, regardless of their weight (I checked this twice).
[Table: IRCTC Luggage Allowance & Paid Caps – Dec 2025]
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| Travel Class | Free Allowance | Max Limit (In-Coach) | Penalty Rate |
| AC First Class | 70 kg | 150 kg | 1.5x Luggage Rate |
| AC 2-Tier / First Class | 50 kg | 100 kg | 1.5x Luggage Rate |
| AC 3-Tier / Chair Car | 40 kg | 40 kg | No extra paid in-coach |
| Sleeper Class | 40 kg | 80 kg | 1.5x Luggage Rate |
| Second Class (General) | 35 kg | 70 kg | 1.5x Luggage Rate |
Moreover, commercial goods or “merchandise” are strictly prohibited in passenger areas. Specifically, if you’re carrying samples or stock for a business, you must book them in the parcel van at least 30 minutes before departure.
Actually, the Minister noted that overcrowding is often caused by bulky luggage blocking emergency exits.15 As a result, the Railways has already started installing weighing scales and scanners at major junctions like New Delhi and Mumbai Central.16 Consequently, the “slack enforcement” of the past is officially over (let’s be real, it was about time).
The thing is, AC 3-Tier and Chair Car passengers have the tightest squeeze. In fact, their free allowance of 40kg is also their maximum limit.
Basically, there is no option to pay for “extra” luggage to keep with you in these classes. Instead of a tidy wrap-up, just keep in mind that the dimensions matter as much as the weight.
And then Y followed. If your box is too wide to fit under the seat, the railway staff can legally move it to the brake van at your expense. Pack light, stick to the 100x60x25cm rule, and save yourself the headache at the platform….
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