Railway Parcel Services
Railway Parcel Services
Overview
Indian Railways offers one of the largest and cheapest parcel logistics networks in the world. Through ~2,000 Parcel Offices, ~1,000 Luggage Offices and “Parcel Vans / Brake Vans” attached to ~1,400 passenger trains every day, it transports everything from books, fruits, medicines, e-commerce packets to live animals and two-wheelers at rates far lower than road or air cargo.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Statutory provision | Indian Railways Act 1989, Sec-64 & 65 |
| Booking channel | Counter, IRCTC Rail-Parcel portal, “Parcel Sewa” mobile app |
| Liability limit | Max ₹ 100/- per kg for ordinary parcels unless insured |
| Free allowance (FA) for bonafide passengers | 70 kg sleeper class, 100 kg AC 1st, 50 kg chair-car |
| Marginal allowance (MA) | 10 kg over FA at 1½ times luggage scale rate |
| Demurrage after 6 hrs | ₹ 10/- per 100 kg or part, per hour |
| Wharfage after 48 hrs | ₹ 5/- per 10 kg or part, per day |
| Minimum chargeable weight | 10 kg for parcels, 50 kg for two-wheelers |
| Maximum single piece | 150 kg / 2 m x 1.5 m x 1 m (can vary by train) |
| Parcel van code | “VP” in rake composition |
| Brake van code | “BV” (also carries SLR & guard) |
| High-speed parcel train (2021) | “Roll-on Roll-off” (Ro-Ro) services on Delhi–Mumbai & Delhi–Kolkata |
| Green parcel cooling charge | 15 % extra on freight for fruits/vegetables in ventilated vans |
| Live-animal booking hours | 08:00–18:00 hrs only; veterinarian certificate compulsory |
| E-payment gateway | PayTM, Razorpay, Bharat-Pay, SBI e-Pay |
| Penal charge for misdeclaration | 5 times difference in freight + min ₹ 500/- |
Important Points
- Parcel vans are attached at either end of the train (next to SLR) for easy loading/unloading.
- No parcel booking is allowed in Vande Bharat, Gatimaan, Rajdhani (fully AC), but Rajdhani slip coaches can carry.
- “Green Arrow” terminals—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Secunderabad—handle > 60 % of parcel traffic.
- Pesticides, explosives, currency, gold/silver bullion, corpses are in the “Prohibited” list.
- Railways can open & inspect any parcel without prior notice (Rule 1303 Indian Railway Commercial Manual).
- Liability for loss starts from the time LR (Luggage Receipt) is issued till delivery; time limit for claim—6 months.
- Indemnity bond is compulsory for consignments valued > ₹ 50,000/-.
- Seasonal commodities (mango, lichi, onion) enjoy 15 % rebate in freight for 45–60 days every year.
- Railways shares revenue with parcel contractors under “Open Market Policy” (OMP) at 193 identified stations.
- Parcel rate = Base rate (per kg) + RSC (Railway Safety Charge 1 %) + GST (5 % or 12 % depending on commodity).
- “Door-to-door” service started 2020—first/last mile by road through IR’s logistics arm—IRLDC.
- Cold-chain vans (CCVs) maintain −25 °C to +25 °C for vaccines, meat, flowers.
- Duplicate LR can be issued only after 48 hrs of loss report and on execution of indemnity.
- Unclaimed parcels are auctioned on 30th day at station level; proceeds kept in “Deposits” for 3 years.
- Weightment is done on electronic weigh-bridges; ± 1 % tolerance is allowed.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Maximum free allowance for AC-3 tier passenger vs. marginal allowance calculation.
- Difference between demurrage and wharfage charges.
- Liability ceiling & procedure to claim compensation for lost parcel.
- Prohibited & restricted commodities list.
- Coding of parcel van & brake van in train composition diagrams.
BETA
