Western Railway Enforces Penalties for Excess Passenger Luggage
A few days after the stampede at Bandra Terminus, the Western Railway announced that passengers will face penalties if their luggage exceeds the allowed limit for their travel class. They also urged people to avoid overcrowding at the stations.
Each passenger is allowed to bring a certain amount of luggage for free, but items like scooters and bicycles, along with packages larger than 100 cm x 100 cm x 70 cm, do not qualify for this free limit, according to a statement from the WR on Tuesday.
The Western Railway emphasized that all passengers should avoid overcrowding at stations and enter only when necessary, following train schedules and adhering to the luggage limits. This measure aims to reduce congestion on platforms and ensure smoother movement for passengers within the station.
The Western Railway has requested that all passengers adhere to the rules regarding the maximum limit of free luggage.
“The free allowance differs for each travel class. If the luggage exceeds the specified free limit, a penalty will be applied accordingly,” the announcement stated, noting that this directive is effective immediately and will remain in place until November 8.
There has been a noticeable increase in parcel bookings during the festive season, especially at the parcel offices of Bandra Terminus, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna, and Surat. The WR highlighted that the accumulation of parcels on platforms for loading onto trains creates difficulties for passenger movement.
To ensure the safety and security of passengers, guidelines have been issued to prevent parcel consignments from being stacked on platforms for extended periods prior to a train’s scheduled departure.
Recently, 10 people were injured in a stampede while trying to board the Gorakhpur-bound Antyodaya Express train at the Bandra Terminus in Mumbai.
Additionally, the Western Railway has already imposed temporary restrictions on the sale of platform tickets at certain major stations, effective until November 8.
