Parcels:

DEFINITION:

Goods entrusted to a Railway Administration for carriage by a passenger train or parcel trains are called “Parcels”.

ARTICLES NOT ACCEPTED AS PARCELS : (CT 601)

  1. Acids and other Corrosive substances
  2. Offensive articles

Accepted as per Red Tariff Rules:

  • UraniumUranium concentrate
  • Heavy water and other radioactive materials
  • Thorium
  • Thorium Nitrate
  • Thorium Oxide

WEIGHMENT OF PARCELS:

All the parcels rendered for booking should be weighed on the weighing machine in the presence of sender or his authorized agent. In the case weighing machine is out of order parcels should be charged on the weight declared by the sender and the following remarks should be written on all foils of PWBs:
“Weighing machine out of order – Sender’s weight accepted – Destination to weigh before delivery and collect any undercharges due”.

In case of vehicle-load consignments when packages are of uniform size and weight, 10% of the consignments can be weighed and total weight can be calculated.

METHOD OF CHARGE : (613)

Parcels are charged either by actual weight or by measurement whichever gives the greater charge. Parcels booked from one consignor to one consignee to the same destination station will be charged on the gross weight of the total number of packages.

In case of parcels chargeable by measurement, the chargeable weight of each package will be calculated separately and the total weight of all the packages thus arrived at will be charged on the gross weight. To convert the volume into weight, apply the formula

28 dm3 or part thereof = 4 kg

When parcels are charged by measurement, both the actual weight and volumetric weight must be shown in the PWB.

MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR CHARGE:

  • Generally – 10 kg per consignment
  • Grapes – 4.5 kg. per package (CT 620)
  • Apple, Anar & Cherries – 5 kg. per package (CT 620)
  • Treasurer/Live Poultry – 40 kg. per package (CT 620)

MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE:

  • Grapes – 4.5 kg. per package
  • v Apple, Anar, Cherries, – 5 kg. per package (CT 620) Koah and betel leaves
  • Minimum chargeable distance: 50 km. (CT 617)
  • Prepayment of freight is compulsory for all parcel traffic.
  • Rounding off of freight charge: Any fraction is rounded off to next higher rupee.
  • Minimum freight charge per consignment
    • Scale R, P, SRs. 30/-
    • Small Animals and Birds – Rs. 30/- per animal/bird
    • Registered Newspapers Magazines – Rs. 2/-

COMMODITIES CHARGEABLE UNDER DIFFERENT SCALES :

  • All types of commodities including Luggage will be charged uniformly at the same rate, under four different Scales, depending on the type of service.
  • The three scales and three types of Parcel services are as under:
  • Scale Type of Service Type of Train
    Scale – R Rajdhani Parcel Service All Rajdhani Express Trains
  • Scale – P Premier Parcel Service Notified Mail/Exp. Trains & Shatabdi
    Exp* Parcel Expresses
  • Scale – S Standard Parcel Service Other Mail/Exp. Trains, Shatabdi Exp. &all Ordinary Trains
  • The Zonal Railways will notify such trains for Up & Down Directions of the trains separately.
  • Registered Newspapers & Magazines will be charged at 45% of Scale-S, by all trains.
  • Minimum distance for the charge for all Parcels will be 50 kilometers and the minimum charge will be Rs. 30/-.
  • The maximum permissible weight and outside dimensions of any package/article which can be accepted for booking, except by previous arrangements are as under

Gauge Maximum weight Maximum Dimensions:

  1. BG 150 kg 2 x 1.5 x 1.25 meters
  2. MG 150 kg 2 x 1.5 x 1.25 meters
  3. NG 125 kg 1.5 x 1.07 x 1 meters
  • Parcels will be charged either by actual weight or by weight derived on volumetric basis, which ever is higher.
  • Dangerous goods can be booked and carried by ordinary trains only.

BULKY ARTICLES (CT 608):

  1. Any single package exceeding the weight of 100 kg is ‘bulky’.
  2. Outside measurement exceeds 100 x 100 x 70.

Exceptions:

  • If anyone dimension exceeds by 10% or less, it will not be treated as bulky provided the weight is less than 100 kg.
  • For Copper, Brass sheets and pipes the outside measurement not exceeding 200 x 100 x 70 cm, will not be treated as bulky if the actual weight is within 100 kg.
  • No free allowance should be given for bulky articles accepted as luggage.
  • Charges should be collected based on Actual weight or measurement weight, whichever is more.
  • For calculating volumetric weight, 28 dm3 or part = 4 kg.
  • Double the ‘scale’ should be charged for bulky articles.
  • Articles for which standard weight is prescribed (C.T. 501) are not treated bulky.
Preparation of waybill:

The PWB should be prepared with the help of double-sided carbon and should be signed in full by the staff preparing them. The number of packages booked should be recorded both in figures and words. Out Agency or City Booking Agency charge, PCEV charge and Paid on charges, if any should be shown separately. Alterations, erasures, and over-writing should be avoided. If any mistake is committed it should be scored off and written again and signed by the staff preparing the PWB.

The description of the articles must be clearly mentioned and if any article is unpacked such as the bicycle, motorcycle, the maker’s trade name and the condition of the article should be mentioned in the PWB.

In case of Bi-cycle the frame no. and in case of motorcycle/scooter, the registration no. should also be mentioned.There are two types of PWB books supplied to stations, i.e. Local Paid and Foreign Paid and each Parcel Way Bill contains 4 foils namely, Record, Receipt, Accounts and Guard’s foils.

Routing of parcels:

All parcels shall be booked and carried via the shortest route. When a parcel is required to be booked by other than the shortest route, the sender should make an endorsement in that regard in the Forwarding Note, and the same will be reproduced in all foils of PWB.

Booking, Carriage, and Stacking of Parcels:

The system of stacking parcels on the passenger platforms should not affect the basic function of the platforms to provide smooth entry and exit to the passengers for boarding or alighting from a train. In this connection the Board has given the following instructions:

It has been decided by the Board to rationalize booking and carriage Parcels so as to ensure convenience and safety to traveling public, reduction in transit time of parcels and enhanced punctuality record of trains as follows

Booking & carriage of Parcels by all passenger carrying trains shall be permitted only to those stations where the particular train terminates.

  • Booking of parcels To and From intermediate stations served by a particular train shall also be permitted provided,
    o By Mail/Exp. train if the particular train stops there for 5 minutes or more
  • By ordinary trains, if there is adequate halt for such booking
    Unloading & re-loading or parcels at intermediate stations shall not be permitted.
  • However, one break-of-gauge Transshipment will be permitted at higher of the Two scales for entire distance from booking point to the destination.
  • The above instructions do not apply to Booking of Luggage.
    Railways must ensure Parcels unloaded in Platforms or promptly removed to avoid inconvenience to passengers.
  • Similarly, Loading of Parcel booked at the stations to be done with the barest minimum time of stacking of parcel on the platforms.
  • Loading program for Parcel movement for all M/E Trains should be chalked out by the Zonal Railways as per demand pattern and notified to station concerned.