Parcel Booking in Trains

Parcel space of the Assistant Guard’s Cabins (AGCs), Brakevans (SLRs) and Parcel Vans (VPs) is leased out by the Railways to the private parties by inviting bids through open tenders. The reserve price for leasing of Assistant Guard’s Cabins (AGCs) and Breakevans (SLRs) is fixed by the Railways at par with the tariff rates applicable for booking of parcels by that train. The leaseholder aggregates the parcels from different customers and offers the consolidated cargo to the Railways for transportation in the leased space between specific pair of points. Marketing, aggregation, distribution, loading and unloading of parcels is done by the leaseholder. In lieu of providing value added door-to-door service, the leaseholder collects some remuneration from their customers, to which Railway Administration has no concern. However, one compartment of the Brakevan of each passenger carrying train remains with railways for the clearance of newspapers, luggage, pet etc. from originating as well as from intermediate station(s), wherein parcels are booked by the Railways on tariff rates applicable for such booking.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.