How much luggage can you carry?
There are two limits, not one: what you carry free, and the most you may bring into the compartment at all. The gap between them can be booked and paid for. Being caught in that gap without booking costs four times as much as booking it.
Sleeper Class
Total weight of everything you bring into the compartment.
Allowance by class, per passenger
The free column is what you carry at no charge. The maximum is the ceiling for the compartment.
| Class | Free | Maximum in the compartment |
|---|---|---|
| AC First Class / Executive | 70 kg | 150 kg |
| AC 2-Tier / First Class | 50 kg | 100 kg |
| AC 3-Tier / Chair Car | 40 kg | 40 kgno headroom |
| Sleeper Class | 40 kg | 80 kg |
| Second Sitting | 35 kg | 70 kg |
Luggage questions
How much luggage can I carry free on a train?
It depends on your class: 70 kg in AC First or Executive, 50 kg in AC 2-Tier or First Class, 40 kg in AC 3-Tier and Chair Car, 40 kg in Sleeper, and 35 kg in Second Sitting.
What happens if I carry more than the free allowance?
If you declare and book it in advance, the excess is charged at one and a half times the luggage scale rate. If it is found unbooked during a check, the same excess is charged at six times that rate. Booking honestly costs a quarter of getting caught.
Is there a maximum I can carry into the compartment?
Yes, and it is separate from the free allowance: 150 kg in AC First, 100 kg in AC 2-Tier and First Class, 80 kg in Sleeper, 70 kg in Second Sitting. Beyond that the surplus travels in the brake van as booked luggage rather than with you.
Why can't I book excess luggage in AC 3-Tier?
Because in AC 3-Tier and Chair Car the maximum permitted equals the free allowance at 40 kg. There is no headroom above it, so anything beyond 40 kg has to be booked into the brake van instead of carried into the coach.
Can I pay for extra luggage online?
Yes. Since July 2026 passengers with a confirmed ticket can pay for additional baggage during booking on the same platform, instead of queueing at a parcel office. AC 3-Tier and Chair Car are excluded because those classes have no headroom above the free allowance.
Does the allowance apply per person or per ticket?
Per passenger. A family of four in Sleeper has 160 kg of free allowance between them, which is why the limit rarely troubles ordinary travellers and mostly catches people moving household goods.
Booking for a family?
Work out who travels free and who needs a berth of their own.