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.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 The minimum chargeable weight for an ordinary parcel in Indian Railways is
A) 5 kg
B) 8 kg
C) 10 kg
D) 20 kg
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways levies parcel freight on a minimum chargeable weight of 10 kg for an ordinary parcel, irrespective of the actual weight being less.
Question:02 Which of the following trains is totally exempt from parcel traffic?
A) Vande Bharat Express
B) Duronto Express
C) Jan Shatabdi Express
D) Sampark Kranti Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A Explanation: Vande Bharat Express trains are fully air-conditioned chair-car services with no brake-van or luggage-cum-parcel compartment, hence they are totally exempt from booking any parcel traffic.Question:03 Demurrage is levied after how many free hours from the arrival of a parcel train?
A) 3 hrs
B) 6 hrs
C) 12 hrs
D) 24 hrs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian Railways allows 6 free hours after a parcel train’s arrival; demurrage charges apply once this period expires.
Question:04 The penal charge for under-weighing a parcel is
A) Double the freight
B) ₹ 1000/- flat
C) 10 times freight
D) 5 times the difference in freight subject to min ₹ 500/-
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: As per Indian Railways (Parcel & Luggage) Rules 2026, if a parcel is found under-weighed, the consignor is levied a penal charge equal to 5 times the difference between the freight actually paid and the freight that should have been paid, with a minimum of ₹ 500.
Question:05 [Live animals can be booked only during]
A) Daylight hours
B) 06:00–22:00 hrs
C) 08:00–18:00 hrs
D) Any time with vet certificate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: As per 2026 Indian Railway rules, live animals are accepted for booking strictly between 08:00 and 18:00 hrs to ensure adequate staff and veterinary supervision.
Question:06 [What is the code of a parcel van in a rake composition chart?]
A) PV
B) VP
C) P
D) V
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: In Indian Railways rake composition charts, the code “VP” is officially used to denote a parcel van.
Question:07 Which of the following commodities enjoys a seasonal rebate of 15 %?
A) Mango
B) Cotton
C) Jaggery
D) Wheat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Indian Railways grants a 15 % seasonal rebate on freight for mangoes during the designated mango season to encourage faster evacuation of this perishable fruit.
Question:08 [What is the maximum railway liability per kilogram for an uninsured ordinary parcel as per 2026 rules?]
A) ₹ 50/-
B) ₹ 75/-
C) ₹ 100/-
D) ₹ 200/-
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways limits its liability to ₹ 100 per kg for uninsured ordinary parcels dispatched in 2026, as notified in the latest parcel tariff rules.
Question:09 [Within how many months must a compensation claim for a lost parcel be filed?]
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
C) 1 year
D) 2 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per Indian Railways rules, a compensation claim for a lost parcel must be filed within 6 months from the date of booking or the date the loss is discovered.
Question:10 [The cold-chain vans of Indian Railways can maintain temperature as low as]
A) −25 °C
B) 0 °C
C) +4 °C
D) +10 °C
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Indian Railways’ refrigerated cold-chain vans are designed to preserve perishables by sustaining temperatures down to −25 °C, ensuring safe transport of frozen goods.
BETA
