COMMERCIAL

Contents
S. No. Main Topics Page Nos.
1 Introduction
2 Organization of Commercial department
3 Functions of the Commercial Department
4 Books of Reference
5 Railway Websites
6 Passenger Business
7 Working in the Booking Office
8 Reservations of Accommodation
9 Cancellation of Reservation and Refund of Fare on
Unused or Partially Used Tickets etc.
10 Facility of Attendants
11 Other Miscellaneous Rules
12 Goods Business
13 Procedure of Booking Goods Traffic
14 Open Deliver and Assessment Delivery
15 Demurrage and Wharfage
16 Rebooking and Diversion
17 Parcel Business
18 Scales of Parcel Booking
19 Carriage of Luggage
20 Claims, Liabilities of Railways and RCT
21 NR Cell
22 Carriage of Railway Materials and Stores
23 Annexure I
24 Annexure II
25 Question Bank
 ORGANISATION OF COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

OF INDIAN RAILWAYS

INTRODUCTION

The Commercial department is responsible for selling Railway services, for creating,
designing and developing traffic, for securing and maintaining friendly relations with the
travelling and trading customers and public at large, and for cultivating good public relations
with them. The fixing of rates, fares and other charges and the correct collection, accountal
and remittance of traffic receipts are also among its functions. The overall commercial
activities, which are also called as railway business, are of two types – Freight and Coaching.
Again, Coaching is divided into two – Passenger and Parcel.

Services offered by Railways

FREIGHT PASSENGER OTHERS
Train Loads Suburban Non-Suburban Non-Suburban Parcels
Long distance Short distance
Wagon Loads EMU/DEMU Rajdhani/Shatabdi/ Passenger Luggage
Duronto
Containers MEMU Superfast Branch Line Catering
  service including
MG/NG
Scheme- Conventional Mail/Exp/Intercity Rail Bus Retiring Rooms
oriented
Other business Double Decker Garib Rath Mixed Trains Cloak Rooms
models-
oriented

ORGANISATION OF COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

 Membe r (Tr affic)

A dditionalM ember Additional M ember A ddnl.M ember (Computer isation

( C omme rc ial) (C ater ing & Tourism) & I nformation Syste ms)

EDT raffic Comme rc ial( Rates ) ED ( Cater ing & ED ( C &IS)

Tour ism )

DT C (Rate s) D TC (C &T) Dir ec tor(C &IS)

ED (P as senger Marke ting)

DT C (G )

DT C (G 2)

D ir.(Pass gr . Mktg.)

ED (Fr eight Mar ke ting)

D FM

E D(Public G rie vanc e)

D TC ( C laim s )

At Railway Board Level: Member Traffic, Railway Board is in-charge of Commercial as

Member (Traffic)

Additional Member Additional Member Addnl.Member (Computerisation

( Commercial ) (Catering & Tourism) & Information Systems)

EDTraffic Commercial (Rates) ED (Catering & ED ( C&IS)

Tourism )

DTC (Rates) DTC (C&T) Director(C&IS)

ED (Passenger Marketing)

DTC (G)

DTC (G2)

Dir.(Passgr. Mktg.)

ED(Freight Marketing)

DFM

ED(Public Grievance)

DTC ( Claims)

well as Operating Departments at the Board's level. There is a Commercial Directorate under
him headed by Addl. Member (Commercial). He is assisted by Executive Directors &
Directors/Joint Directors, looking after portfolios of Freight Rates, Coaching Rates,
Reservation Catering, Marketing, Claims & Refunds and Research. They are further assisted
by Deputy Directors etc. His office looks after the core Commercial activities of Railways.
Further, the offices of Additional Members (Catering & Tourism) and (Computerization &
Information System) are also very important from marketing point of view. The former office
deals with IRCTC for primarily tourism part now-a-days, and the later one with CRIS and
others for passenger business, viz. PRS, UTS, I-Ticketing, E-Ticketing, booking through
SMS, Enquiry, etc.

COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION AT ZONAL LEVEL

At Zonal Level:

Along with the General Manager of each Zone, there is one Additional General
Manager. Additional General Manager looks after the Commercial Department in matters
delegated to him by the General Manager. Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) is usually in
the same grade as the AGM, and is the functional head of Commercial department at zonal
level. He directly reports to the General Manager.
 The CCM deals with all general matters in commercial including rates, catering,
refunds, claims and public complaints and grievances. He is assisted by CCM (PS), CCM
(PM), CCM (FS), CCM (FM) and CCO (Chief Claims Officer). These officers are further
assisted by Dy CCMs and Senior and Assistant Commercial Managers, and inspectorial staff.

G.M.

CCM

CCO CCM(PS) CCM(PM) CCM(FM) CCM(FS)

Dy.CCO SCM DY. CCM(PM) DY. CCM (R & FS) SCM

SCM(CL) SCM(CP) ACM SCM SCM ACM

ACM(CL) ACM(CP) ACM ACM

The General branch looks after matters such as wharfage and demurrage, handling
contracts, passenger amenities at stations, ticket checking, passenger complaints, commercial
publicity, commercial establishment, identifying and supply of tickets, accounts and audit
objections, commercial stores etc.

The Rates Branch deals with implementation of rating policies enunciated by the
Board, issue of various rate circulars, time-tables to all stations of the railways, siding
agreements, quoting of special rates for passengers as well as freight traffic, opening/closing
of stations, refund of overcharges etc. The catering branch look after all aspects relating to
departmental & contract in the zone.

The Claims organization under CCO has two wings, viz. - Claims settlement wing
and Claims prevention wing. CCO is assisted by a Dy. CCO and a Dy.CCM (CP)
respectively in these two branches. The Dy.CCO has Senior Commercial Officer (Claims)
and a number of assistant officers whose number varies according to the work-load on each
railway. There is also a legal cell to render legal advice in settlement of claims as well as for
processing claim cases taken by the Claimants to Railway Claims Tribunals (RCTs) and other
Courts/Forums/Tribunal.

The main function of the Commercial branch is to do selling the services and
marketing for the Railways in Coaching as well as in Freight business. Its functions include
efforts to promote and retain traffic of high profit yielding commodities with railways by
maintaining constant liaison with customers, trade and industries, and to offer various Freight
incentive schemes and other business promoting measures launched from time to time. This
branch also looks after the movement of parcel traffic at important junctions and by important
trains on day-to-day basis and takes remedial actions in case of held ups. It also undertakes
development measures such as opening of out-agencies, city booking agencies etc. as also
leasing of SLRs/VPUs besides contracts and PPPs activities, etc.

The Chief Public Relations Officer is another officer (ex-cadre), who assists the
Commercial department. He is in SAG/JAG, and looks after the matters such as organizing
proper publicity about railways, issuing press notes, giving advertisements to news papers,
conducting press parties to various important junctions, organizing press conferences etc. on
special occasions. He is assisted by a Senior Public Relations Officer. They are further
assisted by APROs. There is also post of PRO/APRO in all divisions and important state
capitals falling in a zone, where he works under the Sr. DCM and CPRO both. Normally,
CPRO reports directly to Additional General Manager & General Manager of a zone.

COMMERCIAL ORGANISATION AT DIVISIONAL LEVEL

D.R.M.

A.D.R.M.

Senior D.C.M.

D.C.M.

A.C.M. I A.C.M. II A.C.M.III

At Divisional Level:

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) is the head of the division. He is in Senior

Administrative Grade. The DRM is assisted by one or more Additional Divisional Railway
Managers (ADRMs) and several branch officers. The head of Commercial Branch is Sr.
Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr.DCM) in JA Grade or Divisional Commercial Manager
(DCM) in senior scale depending on size of the division. He is assisted by one or more DCMs
& Assistant Commercial Managers (ACMs) respectively. The primary function of these
officers is to implement all policies and directions issued by the head office and to ensure
smooth day-to-day commercial working at the stations on a division. The Sr. DCM/DCM is
responsible for all executive functions of commercial.

COMMERCIAL STAFF OF A DIVISION

In addition to these officers, there are some Area Officers in each division varying
from Senior Administrative Grade to Assistant Scale depending upon size and importance of
the area being looked after. They are also delegated certain powers to handle day-to-day
commercial matters such as waiver of wharfage and demurrage, releasing reservation quotas,
public relations etc., in addition to some operating functions on certain divisions.

At Station Level:
 Station is the main centre where the commercial business is actually transacted. They
can be called the retail outlets for selling of various Railway products/services. There are
around 8000 stations spread all over Indian Railways. The nature of traffic handled at each
station differs and these stations are listed alphabetically in the Alphabetical list of Railway
Stations published by IRCA (Indian Railway Conference Association), New Delhi.

Some important and larger stations are headed by a Station Managers (SMs) in
Gazetted Gr. B (JS/SS grade). At several stations, however, they are designated as Station
Superintendents (SSs). The rank of a SS can vary from grade of a senior supervisor to a Sr.
Scale gazetted officer depending on importance of the station.

At smaller stations (also known as roadside stations) the quantum of traffic dealt with
is not very heavy. Therefore, at these stations both the operating and commercial working is
handled by the SM assisted by Assistant Station Masters (ASMs) in shift duties. At bigger
stations, depending on the work-load, separate commercial staff is provided to look after the
commercial work. They are generally known by a generic name of Commercial Clerks and
may be working as Booking Clerks, Parcel Clerks, Goods Clerks, Ticket Collectors, Inquiry
& Reservation Clerks, Catering Managers etc. At still bigger stations, there are all these
categories of commercial staff headed by supervisory staff for each function. The
designations of these supervisory staff are such as Chief Reservation Supervisor, Catering
Inspector, Chief Parcel Supervisor, Chief Booking Supervisor, Chief Goods Supervisor, etc.
depending on their functions.

Stations being the hub of commercial activity they are provided with various facilities
to handle the traffic dealt with at the Station. These facilities may include an adequate
number of booking windows for passengers, a separate parcel office with separate facilities
for booking, delivery and stocking of parcels, a separate goods office with covered shed,
platforms for loading/unloading, special sidings for dealing with oil traffic and other bulk
traffic such as coal, timber, minerals etc.

Crane facilities, motor ramps, plots for storage of loose material like charcoal etc. in
addition to canteen and other facilities. At important stations there will also be separate
reservation and inquiry offices, cloak rooms and catering establishments. The quantum and
standard of these facilities differ from station to station based on its commercial importance
and requirements.

FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

The Commercial Department of the Railway is the most visible department, and is
usually called the earning and marketing department, the others being spending departments.
This is because the railway revenues are entirely made up of the earnings from sale of tickets
and transportation of goods, luggage and parcels which are booked and delivered by the
Commercial Department. This department has to collect the charges as per rates in force and
account for them. It has also to canvass for traffic to see that the vast railway facilities are
utilized to the maximum extent for the purpose for which they have been created.

To achieve this, it has to maximise satisfaction to the customers through creation of

suitable facilities, provision of amenities for the users, proper up-keep of the stations and
other working places from the point of view of the customers, measures for speedy
transportation, safe delivery of goods etc. This department, therefore, comes in direct contact
with the public and it has to reply to the public complaints also.

Needless to say that for carrying out these various functions this department has to
maintain a close liaison with the other railway departments on which it has to depend for
execution of the various works and maintenance of the facilities.

The main functions of the Commercial Department may, however, be enumerated as

below:-

1. Provision of booking facilities for traffic, i.e. opening of booking offices, goods sheds,
parcel offices etc.

2. Opening of enquiry and reservation offices for passenger traffic.

3. Sale of ticket and booking and delivery of parcels, luggage and goods.

4. Implementation of the rating policy of the railway board i.e. giving effect to changes in the
fares and freight rates from time to time.

5. Quotation of special rates.

6. Provision of users' amenities and ensuring their proper up keeps such as waiting rooms,
retiring rooms, drinking water supply etc. at every station.

7. Refund of over-charges in passenger fares and freight rates.

8. Waiver and refund of demurrage and wharfage.

9. Clearance of station outstanding i.e. recovery and remittance of dues short-recovered or not
recovered.

10. Remittance of station earnings.

11. Ticket checking arrangements.

12. Management of departmental catering units, licensing of catering contracts & their
supervision.

13. Settlement of claims for compensation.

14. Taking measures for claims prevention.

15. Levy of siding charges and dealing with siding agreements.

16. Provision of Cloak-Rooms.

17. Running of Lost Property Offices (LPOs).

18. Marketing and sales activities i.e. canvassing for high profit yielding commodities,
maintenance of customer-oriented services, like own your wagon scheme, leasing of SLRs
scheme, measures for tackling rail-road competition etc.

19. Justification for introduction of new trains.

20. Conducting traffic surveys to establish justification for new line etc.

21. Grant of credit facilities to customers (credit note facility)

22. Grant of concessions in railway fares and freight rates, including special facilities for
tourist coaches etc.

23. Attention to complaints from the users.

24. Naming of stations and change of station names, etc.

25. Arrangements for handling of goods - appointment of handling contractors for stations
and transshipment points.

26. Holding and conducting of meetings with railway users at Station, Divisional, Zonal and
Board levels such as SCC (Station Consultative Committee), DRUCC (Divisional Rail Users
Consultative Committee), ZRUCC (Zonal Rail Users Consultative Committee), NRUCC
(National Rail Users Consultative Council) and matters related to it.

27. Opening/Closing and renewal of ‘City Booking Offices’, ‘City Booking Agencies’ and
‘Out agencies’.

28. Engaging RTSAs (Rail Travellers Service Agents), JTBSs (Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking
Sevaks), GTBSs (Grameen Ticket Booking Sevaks), etc.

BOOKS FOR REFERENCE

The following books of reference are in use for various functions by the commercial
Department:

RAILWAY BOARD PUBLICATIONS:

1. INDIAN RAILWAY ACT 1989

2. INDIAN RAILWAYS TRAFFIC CODE (Commercial)
3. COMMERCIAL MANUALS, VOL I (FOR COACHING TRAFFIC)
VOL II ( FOR GOODS TRAFFIC )

I.R.C.A. (INDIAN RAILWAYS CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION) Publications:

1. ALPHABETICAL LIST - For station codes of 1-4 characters.

2. COACHING TARIFF PART I VOL I - General Rules.
3. COACHING TARIFF PART I VOL II - Concession
4. COACHING TARIFF PART II - Coaching Rate Table
5. COACHING TARIFF PART III - Parcel Rate Table
6. GOODS TARIFF PART I VOL I - General Rules
7. GOODS TARIFF PART I VOL II - Classification of Commodities
 8. GOODS TARIFF PART II - Freight Rate Table
9. MILITARY TARIFF - Rules for Military traffic
10. RED TARIFF - Rules for Dangerous goods

ZONAL RAILWAY PUBLICATIONS/NOTIFICATIONS

1. DISTANCE TABLES
2. LOCAL COACHING TARIFF - IF REQD.
3. LOCAL GOODS TARIFF - IF REQD.

IMPORTANT RAILWAY WEBSITES

1. www.indianrailways.gov.in - follow the link to ‘Railway board directorates’ and then

‘Traffic Commercial’ for all Commercial circulars (Passenger services), Freight
Marketing circulars, and the Freight rate circulars.
2. www.indianrail.gov.in - website connected to PRS (Passenger Reservation System)
and e-ticketing purposes – for reservation & refund rules, PNR enquiry, Train
accommodation availability etc.
3. www.trainenquiry.com - web site connected to NTES (National Train Enquiry
System)- for Spot your train etc.
4. https://www.irctc.co.in – website for IRCTC related ticket booking and tourism
activities
5. http://www.claims.indianrail.gov.in – website for settling claims and associated
activities

Besides the abovementioned official websites, there are many private start-ups which have
their own websites and apps, which facilitate rail users by disseminating varieties of desired
information.

PASSENGER BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION

It is common knowledge that every person intending to travel by a train should have a
proper authority to travel. This authority is usually either a ticket or a free pass. Railway
passes are normally issued to railway employees only, barring certain exceptions. In Railway
terminology, the sale of a ticket to an intending passenger is called 'booking' of passenger.
This is covered by the authority vested in railways vide section 50 of the Railway Act, 1989.
A passenger may book a ticket at a railway station, a city booking office run by the railways
or at other centres authorised by the railways for this purpose such as city booking agency or
an out agency or a travel agency. Besides this, he/she can also book a ticket through internet
executed by IRCTC and through agents engaged by IRCTC, and also through mobile (pilot
project started w.e.f. 01.07.2013)
 The names of railway stations, which are open for booking of passengers, as also of
other kinds of traffic, are given in the Alphabetical list of Stations, which is published by the
General Secretary, Indian Railways Conference Association, New Delhi. The IRCA also
separately publishes a list of city booking offices or city booking agencies and out agencies.
The names of authorised travel agencies are given in coaching tariff, Pt. I (Vol. I) published
by IRCA.

All bigger stations have separate booking offices for passenger traffic, and are
manned by booking clerks. Booking windows are provided for different classes of passengers
according to traffic requirements of individual stations. For example, where I class traffic is
heavy, a separate I class booking window is provided in addition to the window for II class.
Similarly, more than one booking window or direction-wise booking windows are provided
according to the requirements of traffic. At smaller stations, however, a single booking
window is provided at the Assistant Station Master's office itself. The hours of opening and
closing of booking windows are prominently displayed at the booking window. At large
stations, booking windows are kept open for all the 24 hours except for brief spells of closure
at intervals of 8 hours for enabling the booking clerks to change shift duties. At smaller
stations booking windows are open for less time but not less than half an hour before the
expected arrival of a train.

It is necessary that the passenger time table and a list of fares charges between
stations are displayed at the booking offices. Accordingly, all stations are required to exhibit
a list of chargeable fares near booking windows, for stations for which tickets are normally in
demand, in addition to the time-table.

CLASSES OF ACCOMMODATION AND AVAILABILITY OF BERTHS ON IR

CLASSES OF ACCOMMODATION IN TRAINS

Trains on Indian Railways have the following main classes of accommodation and
their codes:

S.No. Clases of Accommodation Codes

1 1st AC or 1A H
2 First Class Non-AC F
3 AC Two Tier or 2A A
4 AC Three Tier or 3A B
5 AC Chair Car or CC C
6 Sleeper Class or SL S
7 Second Class Mail/Express II
8 First Class Ordinary FC – rarely used
9 Sleeper Class ordinay Rarely used
10 Second Class Ordinary Used in local conventional
commuter trains
 All these classes of accommodation are not necessarily available on each train and
tickets are issued subject to availability of the type of accommodation on a particular train.

It is a legal requirement that every train must have a compartment of the lowest class
(second class) set apart for lady passengers.

The mail/express trains and super fast trains and long distance trains have II class
sleeper coaches also in which sleeping accommodation is provided for journeys involving
night travel.

AVAILABILITY OF BERTHS

The availability of berths in various types of classes in a conventional BG coach is

generally as under:

S.No. Class No. of berths

1 1A 14/18
2 2A 44/46
3 3A 64
4 FC 22/24/26 berths or 64 seats
5 SL 72/75
6 II 75/80/90 seats

However, latest design of coaches including LHB may have higher number of
berths/seats, which gives more earnings to Railways when booked.

PASSENGER FARE

The fares chargeable for railway tickets are prescribed by the Central Government
after due approval of the Parliament and these are published in the IRCA Coaching Tariff, Pt.
II for all classes for distance from 1 to 5000 kms. The fares for II class are different for
Mail/Express trains and ordinary trains. The IRCA Coaching Tariff Pt. II also indicates a
method by which fares in excess of 5000 kms can be worked out in a particular case.

Children up to five years of age are carried free and those over 5 years in age but less
than 12 years are charged half the fare.

The chargeable fares are, however, subject to a certain minimum chargeable distance
as follows (subject to changes from time to time):
 Sr. Class Minimum
No. Chargeable
distance
1 AC Class (I AC) 100 km
2 I class 100 km
3 2 Tier AC 100 km
4 3 Tier AC 100 km
5 AC Chair Car 100 km
6 Sleeper class 20 km
7 II class M/E 15 km
8 Ist class (ordinary) 10 km
9 Sleeper class (ordinary) 20 km
10 II Class Ordinary 10 km

In respect of travel in reserved accommodation by certain specified Mail/Express

trains known as Super Fast Trains, an additional charge is also levied in these trains. This
charge was introduced to establish the principle that passengers travelling by fast trains
should pay for speed and other comforts available on these trains.

In Rajdhani and Shatabdi expresses, however, the fares are higher and different from
other trains as these tickets also include charges for food, bed rolls and beverages supplied to
passengers during the journey. All these charges are subject to revision every year.

Service tax is also levied @3.708% (3.6% + 0.072% Education + 0.036% Higher
Education cess) on the total fare/charge from passengers w.e.f. 01.10.2012. Presently, service
tax is levied from all AC classes and First Class only in all regular trains including these
classes in special train/coaches, special trains for film shooting, season tickets, Circular
Journey Tickets (CJTs) and Excess Fare Tickets (EFTs).

Besides above, Superfast Charges are also applicable in some identified Mail/Express
trains. And, in for classes Reservation Fees and Supplementary charges (details are
mentioned in subsequent paras) are also applicable over and above the basic fare.

Differential pricing in Railways is not well developed; however, it has been

introduced in order to balance the Demand and Supply situation by introducing the concept of
‘Busy season’ and ‘Lean season’. For passenger traffic the seasons are defined as below:

February, March and August (03 months) and rest 09 months/year are presently
considered as ‘Lean season’ and ‘Busy or Peak season’ respectively. Charges also vary as per
the various schemes such SOFT (Scheme of frequent travellers), Tatkal booking etc.
Different discounts are also being offered to passengers depending on the season in regular
accommodation on the trains especially for upper classes.

Certain discounts are also being given for the higher capacity coaches being
introduced in the trains.

Further charges may also vary as per certain promotional schemes to facilitate users,
‘Tatkal’, etc., launched by the Railways from time to time.
 The fare structure and details thereof is vividly exhibited in Railways website, ‘Trains
at a glance’, rate tables, etc for the benefit of rail travellers.

For latest fare structure, Railways’ website, www.indianrailways.gov.in can be visited

under its Traffic Commercial directorate.

WORKING IN THE BOOKING OFFICE

In the Indian Railways’ parlance Booking Office means the office of booking
unreserved tickets. The unreserved tickets are issued offline through various counters at
railways stations, other places of Railways and even private locations and through private
agencies to facilitate passengers, and also through online where the customers buy them
through their mobile phones, etc. The tickets issued online are electronic in form, and hence
paperless, whereas the offline tickets are issued in various forms. However, they are
categorised in two – (i) Card Tickets, and (ii) Paper Tickets. The online paperless tickets are
the latest variations of Paper Tickets. The Card Tickets are rarely used now-a-days, and are
issued under exigencies and other special occasions and at some locations only.

PRINTED CARD TICKETS

Usually the ticket issued to a passenger is a printed card ticket. It is a small

rectangular piece of card bearing the name of the issuing railway in small letters, all over the
front side, to form a background. It bears a serial number; names of the issuing and
destination stations in Hindi, English and the regional language wherever possible; the route
i.e. the junction or via by which it can be used for travel; the class of accommodation and if
for II class, whether for Mail/Express or ordinary passenger train: the distance in kms. and
the fare chargeable. Tickets for through booking (i.e. where the originating and/or destination
stations are different Railway Administrations) bear a red wave band.

The card pieces on which the tickets are printed are of different colours for the
different classes or accommodation to facilitate identification of the class of travel by visual
inspection.

The stations are, therefore, required to maintain stock of card tickets for only those
stations for which demand for ticket is more than 10 per day. But, a ticket cannot be denied to
any passenger on the plea that a printed card ticket for the destination of his choice is not
available. In such cases, the passenger is given a card ticket up to the farthest point in the
direction of the desired destination, from the available stock, supplemented by a paper ticket
for the balance portion of the distance between the station for which card ticket is available
and the destination of the passenger.

However, the Printed Card Tickets are not in much use these days with the successful
implementation of UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System). Therefore, the indenting and stock
of these are done only in special occasions and for identified stations only. The existing
stock, if not in use, should be disposed of quickly for preventing misuse and malpractices.

OTHER KINDS OF TICKETS AND CONCESSIONS

Besides the Printed Card Tickets there are other kinds of card tickets such as Child
tickets, concession tickets, solder's tickets, return tickets, reservation tickets etc
 Since children over 5 years and up to less than 12 years in age are charged half the
fares chargeable for an adult passenger, separate series of 'child' tickets are printed and kept
in stock.

Railways are granting concession in fares to a large number of different categories of

passengers, such as student for travelling between their educational institution and home
places or on education tours; athletes and sportsmen when travelling to participate in
tournaments held by recognized sports bodies; circus parties; artists when travelling to give
performances sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Academies; foreign students on tour to places
of artistic or historical importance in India; delegates to the annual conferences of certain All
India Organizations of Social, Cultural or Educational importance when travelling to attend
the conference; teachers of schools proceeding on educational tours sponsored by the
Education Departments, farmers when travelling in parties of 20 or more to see places of
agricultural importance on tours approved by the Government Agricultural Departments,
blind persons; persons suffering from T.B. and Cancer and proceeding for medical treatment
etc.

For these various concessions in train fares, the passengers have to obtain concession
certificates from the Railway, subject to fulfillment of the conditions set out in the IRCA
Coaching Tariff - Part I Vol. II.. These certificates have to be exchanged for tickets, which
are issued at reduced fare. Such tickets are called 'concession' tickets. The element of
concession is usually 25% to 75% in IInd class and Ist class but it varies for certain
categories.

Soldier's tickets are those issued to military and police personnel in exchange of military
warrants under the rules framed for this purpose.

Return tickets are also issued at important stations at two single journey fares. These tickets
indicate the station up to which, and there from, the journey can be performed. Each ticket
can be vertically cut into two on reaching the outward point and the remaining half entitles
the passenger to perform return journey within a stipulated period of time. For purposes of
break journey etc. each half is treated separately as a single journey ticket.

Platform Tickets as the name connects, serve as authority to persons to enter the station
platform at stations where entry is regulated. These have the hour of issue marked thereon
and are valid for two hours from the time of issue. These are priced at Rs.5.00 from 1.6.2005.

Season Tickets and Vendor's Tickets: - These are issued for travel on the suburban section
of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and other non-suburban sections also normally for distances
up to 150 kms. These can be either monthly season tickets (MSTs), quarterly season tickets
(QSTs), half yearly season tickets (HSTs) or yearly season tickets (YSTs). Any number of
journeys can be made on them between the specified stations, within the period of validity.
They are mostly popular among persons who have to frequently travel up to a certain station,
such a students, office-goers, industrial workers etc. They are priced very low. The
comparative cost of travel on a monthly season ticket works out to about 20% of the normal
fares in Second Class and still lower in First Class. Similarly, QSTs, HSTs and YSTs are still
cheaper. Moreover, students get further concession in these reduced fares also. These tickets,
however, permit only a restricted quantity of luggage with the season ticket holder which
comes to 15 kgs. of luggage in case of I class season ticket holders and 10 kgs in case of II
class season ticket holders.

Market Vendors season Ticket: - Milk vendors and vegetable vendors can also have similar
Monthly & Quarterly Tickets on payment of 50% extra charge. With the extra charge they
can carry up to 60 kgs. of their goods in one direction and empty-cans or baskets in the return
direction.

Circular Tour Tickets: - For pilgrims and tourists are also available which enable them to
visit number of places on a round tour finally terminating at the starting station. These tickets
are issued for both II Class and I Class. The total distance to be travelled on such a ticket is
divided by two and each half is treated as a single journey for charging of fares and
calculation of validity time. The validity of the ticket is obtained at the rate of 1 day for every
200 kms or part thereof in addition to travel time at the rate of 1 day for every 600 kms on the
total distance for which the ticket is issued.

Railways have standardized several circular tour tickets. These standard circular tours
can be performed either in onward or reverse direction. The detailed information in respect of
the standard circular journey tickets is available at the important stations, mentioned in the
timetable and divisional offices of the Zonal railways.

Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)

More than two crore passengers travel in unreserved coaches and trains daily and thus
form the bulk of rail users. This facility was initially provided at 10 stations of Delhi area in
the first stage of UTS as a pilot project on 15 August 2002. UTS provide the facility to
purchase Unreserved Ticket in advance of the date of journey. A passenger can buy a ticket
for any destination from the UTS counter for all such destinations, which are served by that
station. The cancellation of tickets has also been simplified. Passengers can cancel their
tickets one day in advance of the journey from any station provided with a UTS counter. On
the day of journey, the ticket can be cancelled from station from which the journey was to
commence. UTS system has taken over the Printed Card Tickets or tickets issued by Self
Printing Ticket Machines (SPTMs) gradually. ‘Universal terminals’ which issue reserved
(PRS) as well as unreserved tickets (UTS) from the same booking window has also been
implemented at many required locations.

However, unreserved tickets continue to be available through manual methods and

using PCTs, whenever required though very minimally. With the introduction of UTS, the
Railways also get benefitted in several ways. These are:

 Keeping pace with the latest technology

 Encouraging passengers to purchase their tickets in advance
 To have online accountal and other statistical facts and details of tickets sales
 To have a rational analysis of the demand of passengers on various routes in advance,
so as to augment trains as per requirement

Advantages of Unreserved Ticketing System

 Reduced queue length

  Enable advance planning of unreserved journey also
 Reduced crowds at booking offices and stations, making ticket purchase more
comfortable
 Allow Indian Railways to plan extra trains and coaches as per trend of sales registered
in the system.
 Unreserved itinerary planning possible, tickets available from a station to any station.

As mentioned above, the UTS system has now offering tickets to commuters through
online preferably by using mobile apps. Railways have successfully launched such apps for
the enhanced customer experience.

RESERVATION OF ACCOMMODATION

Advance Booking of Passengers Reservation of seats and berths is permitted usually

up to 60 days in advance of the date of the journey, which again at times varies keeping better
conveniences for passengers, and tickets can, therefore, be purchased while making
application for reservation. However, even in cases where reservation is not required, a ticket
can be purchased in advance for II Class on the day proceeding the date of the journey if the
distance to be travelled is more than 200 kms. Such tickets have, however, to be endorsed by
the railway booking clerk with the words "journey to commence on - - - - - - - - - (date)".

Normally, the entire accommodation set apart for reservation on a train is controlled
by the train starting station. But certain important intermediate stations are also given a quota
of berths and seats and such stations can entertain and confirm reservation without reference
to the train starting station up to the prescribed limit.

Reserved tickets are normally non-transferable and only the persons for whom the
reservation is made can use the ticket and the accommodation reserved for him. Mutual
exchange of reserved seats/berths between passengers of the same class on a train is,
however, permitted.

A written application is necessary in a prescribed form, which is available at the

reservation offices. This form is to be filled in all respects i.e. with the train and date of
journey, name, age, gender of passengers, the class of accommodation required, the station up
to which and number of seats/berths required, train no. and station from which onward
reservation is required from an intermediate junction station etc. The ticket or pass should be
produced along with the requisition for reservation. Reservation can also be done online
using the Internet on the IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in .Two types of tickets are issued,viz.
I-tickets (under this normal PRS tickets are delivered through courier service) and e-tickets
(which were initially could be printed by user on a printer, but now paperless tickets are
permitted and under vogue, where the passengers are allowed to maintain electronic versions
of their tickets which they receive from by using their electronic gadgets). CRIS (Centre for
Railway Information System) is the nodal server centre which enables PRS as well as UTS
for all online and offline ticketing, and booking is done commercially through IRTC.

Accommodation is reserved on 'first come; first served' basis, to the extent of

availability. Others can be wait-listed if they so desire. If reservation is confirmed, a
reservation ticket is issued on collection of the reservation fee and other charges such as the
supplementary charge for travel by certain super fast mail/express trains or the sleeper
surcharge for reservation in 3-tier or 2-tier sleeper coaches, as may be due.

These charges vary from time to time and can be seen visiting Railways website
www.indianrail.gov.in under reservation rules, and are also published in TAG (Trains at a
glance) for the benefit of passengers.

A second class compartment in a carriage can also be reserved for a party on payment
of fares for the number of persons travelling subject to a minimum number of fares
accordingly to the marked seating capacity of the compartment and the normal reservation
fee.

CANCELLATION OF RESERVATION AND REFUND OF FARE ON UNUSED OR

PARTIALLY USED TICKETS ETC.

Railways provide facility to get refund to the passengers, when due to their own
reasons and also of railways, full or part journey is not enjoyed by them. Refund is made
under extant Refund Rules, which are published from time to time as per the Govt of India,
Ministry of Railways notifications. These rules are called Railway Refund Rules. These can
be seen by visiting Railways website www.indianrail.gov.in under tabs, Services, Rules, and
Refund Rules.

FACILITY OF ATTENDANTS

1. Attendants with AC class passenger

A passenger in AC class (first) can take two attendants and a passenger in First Class /AC
Sleeper can take one attendant by purchasing II Class tickets for them. The attendant cannot
travel in AC or I Class but they can attend to their masters in the AC/I Class at train
stoppages enroute. They can also occupy the attendants' compartment if provided on the train.
Usually, the attendants tickets can be purchased from the AC/I Class Ticket Counters along
with the tickets for their masters.

2. Attendants in sole charge of children below 12 years of age

Attendants in sole charge of children below 12 years of age are allowed to travel in the same
compartment as that of the children, on payment of I Class fare when travelling in AC Class
and 60% of I Class fare when travelling in I class. Only one attendant is allowed to travel in
the same compartment with each party at the reduced fare, and the attendant must not occupy
a berth to the exclusion of a passenger who has paid his fare. An attendant travelling in sole
charge of a child of 5 years of age and under will not be allowed the concession. This rule
applies only to AC and I Class passengers.

3. Ladies travelling alone at night -

A lady travelling alone or with children under 12 years of age at night in a I class
compartment reserved for ladies may take with her in the same compartment in which she is
travelling, one female attendant holding a II Class ticket for that portion of the journey which
is performed between the hours of 8 P.M. and 6 A.M. This rule will not apply when 2 or
more ladies are travelling in the same compartment. The attendant must leave the
compartment when more than 1 adult passenger occupies it.

RULES AND RATES FOR CONVEYANCE OF DOGS IN PASSENGER

COMPARTMENTS

Dogs when conveyed in the Guard's van are charged as for 30 kgs. at Scale L Rates
minimum charges being Rs. 30/-. The dogs must be provided with collar and chains. Owners
should make their own arrangements for food and water for the dogs during their journey.

Only a passenger travelling in AC Class or I Class may take a dog into a compartment
only with the concurrence of fellow passengers. The charges for dogs carried in A.C. Class
and I Class are calculated for 60 kgs. at Scale L Rate. The charges are to be prepaid. If fellow
passengers subsequently object to the dogs remaining in the compartment, it will be removed
to the Guard's van, no refund being given. Dogs detected un-booked with passengers in I
Class and AC Class compartments are charged as under:

At six times the prescribed charges up to the point of detection and for further
distance

a. At prescribed charges when the dog is permitted to be carried with the owner in the
compartment; and
b. At dog-box rates (30 kgs. at Scale 'L') when the dog is removed to be carried in the
brake van.

A lady travelling alone or with children under 12 years of age in I Class compartment,
may take with her in the compartment one dog on payment of charges for 30 kgs. at Scale 'L'
subject to a minimum of Rs. 30/- provided that, if another lady enters the compartment the
dogs can only be allowed to remain in the compartment with her consent. Any dogs detected
un-booked is charged at six times of this rate for distance up to the point of detection and at
the normal rate for the distance beyond, the total charge being subject to a minimum of Rs.
50/- for each dog.

Dogs are not allowed to be carried in AC 2 Tier and Chair Car and II Class
Compartments. If a dog is found being carried in contravention of this rule, it is removed
immediately to the brake van and charges at six times the rate prescribed for I class and I AC.
This would be subject to a minimum charge of Rs. 50/-.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS RULES

BREAK OF JOURNEYS

Holders of single journey tickets for distance of more than 500 km (actual distance)
are allowed to break journey at any station enroute. The first break of journey shall not,
however, be made until a distance of 500 kms. has been travelled from the starting station.
Only one break journey will be permitted on tickets up to 1000 kms. of distance and
maximum two break journey will be allowed on tickets of longer distances. The period of
break journey that can be availed at a station will be up to a maximum of 2 days only
excluding the day of arrival and the day of departure. However, break journey on single
journey tickets over suburban section of Indian Railway will not be permitted. For all returns
tickets each half of the ticket is treated as a single journey ticket but the return journey must
be completed within the period for which the tickets is available.

Passengers breaking their journey are required to have their tickets endorsed. The
endorsement shall consist of the Station Code Initials, Station Master's initials and the date.

EXTENSION OF JOURNEY

Extension of journey is permitted provided the passenger contacts the TTE or the
Guard before incurring the charge. He is then given an excess fare ticket on payment of the
difference between the fare paid by him up to his original destination and the fare payable up
to the station to which he wishes to proceed.

CHANGE OF A TICKET FOR A HIGHER CLASS - Change of ticket for a higher class
is permitted on payment of difference between the fares either for the entire journey or only a
portion thereof as desired and either the starting station itself or enroute through the
Travelling Ticket Examiner.

TRAVELLING BEYOND AUTHORIZED DISTANCE UNINTENTIONALLY

If a passenger unintentionally travels beyond the station for which he holds a ticket,
he will be allowed to return to the station to which he was originally booked on purchase of a
fresh single journey ticket of any class, provided he returns by the next passenger train
available and does not, in the meanwhile, leave the premises of the station to which he has
overridden. In such circumstances he will not be required to pay any excess fare or penalty
for the distance overridden by him. This also applies to the holders of return and concession
tickets.

GOODS BUSINESS

GENERAL

Traffic that moves in wagons by goods trains is called Goods Traffic. At the end of
the Year 2012-13, the Indian railways has joined the Billion Tonne Club in the world arena,
where the actual loading of freight traffic has been at 1009.83 million tons in the Year 2012-
13. There are separate rates for charging this traffic, and these are lower than the rates
applicable to the same commodity if booked as parcels.

Traffic booked in one lot by a customer is called a consignment. The person, who
books it, is called the consignor and the person to whom it is booked is called the consignee.

A consignment may be booked as a wagonload or rake load. The same commodity, if

booked as a rake load, is charged at a comparatively lower unit rate than a consignment of
wagon load. This is mainly for the reason that the Railways' assets are put to better use in
moving a rake load consignment; the wagon capacity is fully utilized, it moves faster and the
chances of loss or damage are considerably reduced due to elimination of handling at
midpoints. The Railways also do not have to incur expenditure on loading and unloading of
wagonload as well as rake load consignments as these operations are required to be done by
the owners.

A wagonload consignment is subject to a minimum weight for charge. This is termed

as a minimum weight condition. This condition is bound to differ according to the nature of
the goods booked because different commodities have different densities and a wagon, even
when loaded to its capacity, cannot be given the same weight uniformly in the case of each
commodity. Livestock are not, however, subject to any minimum weight conditions but they
are booked in wagonloads only.

A consignment can also be booked in terms of 'Train Loads'. There are various types
of fright wagons/stock, which are suitable for loading different types of commodities.
However, as per the design and size (length) of the wagons, rake size of different stock
varies. Following table illustrates the same:

Block Rake Size

Min.No.of
Standard Wagons to be
Rake loaded for
Sr.No. Type of Wagon size train load rate. Remarks

OPEN WAGONS

1 BOXN, BOXNHS, BOXNHA 58 56 54 for Kullem-Castle Rock secn.

2 BOX 35 30

3 BOST 42 40

4 BKCX 32 30

5 BOY/BOYN 52 50

HOPPER Wagons

6 BOBR 52 50

7 BOBRNHS 59 57

8 BOB, BOBX,BOXK, BOBS 40 40

9 BOBYNHS 54 52 45 for Dallirajhara-Bhilai secn.

10 BRN/BRNA/BFNS 43 41

11 BRHNEHS 42 40

12 BFR/BFK/BFKI 35 30

COVERED wagons
13 BCN/BCNA/BCNAHS/BCXN 38
40
14 BCX 40 35

15 BCCN 30 29

16 NMG 25 24

TANK WAGONS

17 BTPN 48 46

18 BCCW (Bulk Cement) 40 38

19 BTPGLN 32 30

20 Tank Wagons - 4 wheelers 72 68

21 Tank Wagon TG type - 4wheeler 64 62

Mixed Rakes (BG):

55 ( min.15 of
BOXN & BOYN 55 each type)

22 30 ( min. 10 of
BOX & BFR/BFR*** 35 each type)

41 ( min. 10 of
BCN Group & BOST/ BRN Group 43 each type)

Meter Gauge

MG to MG
23 34 (FW units)
MG to BG 90 ( FW units)

As exception to the above Mini rakes for covered wagons, for short distances are also
permitted by Railway board where Train-load rates are charged for smaller rakes (Lesser no.
of wagons loaded.)

However, the above rake sizes vary from time to time under Railway Board Circulars
issued for the purpose, and these can be seen by visiting the Railways’ website,
www.indianrailways.gov.in under Traffic Commercial directorate.

FREIGHT RATES AND CALCULATION OF FREIGHT

The Railway Board for the purpose of charging freight classifies every commodity
booked as goods traffic. The commodities have been grouped in to 18 groups and 4 divisions.
The ‘Train-load rates’ for charging these groups/divisions of commodities are prescribed in
terms of ‘Classes’. There are a total of 16 classes. Class 100 is treated as the ‘Base class’,
while other classes are in terms of percentages of the base class. There are 11 classes above
the base class corresponding to 110%, 120%…210% at intervals of 10%, and are called as
Class 110, Class120 etc. up to Class 210 (Highest class) and four classes below the base class
corresponding to 90% (LR1), 80% (LR2),70% (LR3),60% (LR4). LR stands for ‘Low-Rated’
classes. The wagon load consignment is classified at one class higher than Train load or class
150 whichever is higher. However for commodities classified at Class 210 the wagonload
consignment is charged at Class 210 while for commodities classified at LR classes the
wagon load consignment is charged at Class 120.

The rates for different distance slabs for various classes are specified in the Freight
Rate tables which are published by I.R.C.A. as Indian Railways Freight Tariff Part II.
However, Railways rationalizes the classes and groups by issuing Circulars, which can be
seen by visiting Railways’ website, www.indianrailways.gov.in.

This classification of the different commodities is based on several considerations.

Costly commodities have a relatively higher classification than that of low value
commodities. Raw materials are classified at a lower scale than that applicable to finished
products of the same raw materials. Density of the material i.e. its loadability by weight is
another factor which influences classification. Certain commodities are liable to break or
suffer damage easily requiring a greater amount of care on the part of the railways. The risk
involved in transportation and the amount of money that the railways may be called upon to
pay in the event of loss or damage to the goods, is yet another factor which influences the
higher or lower classification assigned to a commodity. Articles of general public
consumption are also given comparatively lower classification - as an act of public policy.
Needless to say that the principles of rating and classification are so important that they form
a separate subject of study.

The Railway Board also permits departures from these standardized class rates and
the Railway Administrations may quote special reduced rates, called station-to-station rates,
or lump sum Rates, for specific commodities for movement between specific stations.

The general classification of the various commodities is published in the IRCA Goods
Tariff No. 45, Part I, Vol. II. Changes in the classification are notified to the stations through
Rates circulars issued by the Rates Branch of CCM office of each zone from time to time.
Similarly, whenever a special rate is introduced, it is notified through the Rates circulars that
are issued from time to time giving to stations, information regarding the latest changes in
rates and other regulations.

PRINCIPLES OF RATING & ROUTING

There are situations when it is possible to carry the goods, booked from one station to
another, by more than one railway route. In such cases, the principle observed is that the
goods will be charged on the basis of the cheapest /rationalized route but they would
normally be carried by the shortest/rationalized route. If, however, the consignor wants his
goods to be carried by a route, which is not the cheapest, the charges are collected on the
basis of the route selected by him. In this connection, it should be remembered that the
physically shortest route is not necessarily the rationalized route also. Rationalized route
means a route, which is operationally convenient for the Railways to carry the traffic through.

Normally, the shortest route is the one over, which the distance is comparatively less.
But, if one or two or more alternative routes available have as break of gauge, transshipment
point in between, then the chargeable distance on that route is inflated by 160 kms. for each
break of gauge point involved. This inflation is done only for the purpose of comparing the
two alternative routes as to their comparative length and not for levy of charges.

In case, the cheapest route is not open for traffic, the charges are based on the route
open (rationalized route) for traffic.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE FOR BOOKING & DELIVERY OF TRAFFIC

Every station is invariably provided with the following reference books and circulars
to enable it to book consignments and levy freight charges correctly: -

1. The alphabetical list of stations - it gives the names of all railway stations in Indian
Railways in alphabetical order showing the State and District in which a station is situated,
the kind of traffic for which it is open for booking i.e. wagon loads, rake load, whether
restricted for certain types of goods, the gauge i.e. BG, MG, NG that serves it, etc.

2. IRCA Goods Tariff No. 41, Part - I, Vol. I: - This contains the general rules in
accordance with which goods may be accepted for booking, charged, delivered, etc.

3. IRCA Goods Tariff No. 45, Part - I, Vol. II: - This contains the General Classification
for the various commodities. Certain commodities are called by different local names but
they are indexed by their most popular names only. If its name is not found in the general
classification, the list of synonyms, trade, proprietary and local names of articles given in
Chapter II of this tariff may be consulted. A commodity that is not found classified is to be
charged at the higher class 300.

4. IRCA Goods Tariff No. 44 - Part II: - These are the Rates Tables showing the amount
chargeable towards freight for each class of goods over various distances in kms.

5. IRCA Red Tariff no. 20- This contains rules regarding booking and delivery of certain
commodities categorized as dangerous, such as explosives.

6. IRCA Military Tariff - This contains the rules regarding booking and delivery as well as
the rates applicable to traffic offered by the Defense Department.

7. Distance Tables - These are used for ascertaining the chargeable distance. There are local
distance tables showing the distance from each station to every other station situated on the
same railway, and the junction distance tables, which show the distance from each station up
to the junction through which the goods pass over to the adjoining railway.

8. Rates circulars are issued by the Railways from time to time.

PROCEDURE OF BOOKING GOODS TRAFFIC

Generally speaking, the procedure of booking consignment entails the following steps :

1. Registration of Wagon /Rake demand/Placing Indents;

2. Execution of forwarding note.
3. Examination of the goods and their packing.
4. Weighment of consignments.
5. Marking of packages.
6. Loading of the consignment into wagons.
7. Labeling, sealing and riveting of the loaded wagons and
8. Calculation of freight and issue of Railway Receipts.

These steps are briefly described below:

REGISTRATION OF WAGON DEMAND & SUPPLY OF WAGON

If the booking of a wagonload consignment is intended, the consignor should register

a wagon demand or it is also called "placing an indent" with the Station Master, on
payment of a registration fee which is held as a deposit. The W.R.F. (Wagon registration
fee) required to be deposited is as below:

Gauge For wagon ( 8-wheeler) For rake

BG Rs.500 / wagon Rs. 15000/-
MG Rs.400 /wagon Rs. 12000/-
NG Rs.300 / wagon Rs. 1500/-

However, Railways revises these rates by issuing Circulars, which can be seen
by visiting Railways’ website, www.indianrailways.gov.in.

Wagon Registration fee is not recovered in case of military traffic and railway
materials. Major siding owners on the Indian Railways are supposed to deposit a lump
sum wagon registration fee equal to 3 times average daily loading x W R F per wagon.
And they are supposed to recoup only that amount which may get forfeited etc. under the
rules.

The Wagon demands so registered are noted in a separate register called "Wagon
Indent Register" in serial order and wagon is supplied in the order of registration. But,
certain categories of traffic are given priority under the schedule of preferential traffic
framed by Central Government under the Railways Act, 1989. For example, military
traffic is given the highest priority as Priority A traffic. Other traffic is similarly placed
under priority B, C, and D.

The Wagon registration fee is refunded to the indenter if on allotment of a wagon

against his indent, he utilizes the wagon for booking his traffic, but, it is forfeited if, after
physical supply of the wagon, loading is not commenced within the time allowed for
loading or if the wagon indent is cancelled within ten days from the date of registration of
the demand.

EXECUTION OF FORWARDING NOTE

The forwarding Note (F/Note) is of the nature of an application by the person

tendering the goods for dispatch by rail in a prescribed form. His agent can also execute
it. It is addressed to the Station Master asking him to dispatch his goods to a particular
station. It contains the names of addresses of the consignor and the consignee, or the
 endorsee, description of the goods, number of articles and weight and also a declaration
as to the condition of the goods and their packing. The consignor may also specify
whether the goods may be dispatched in open wagon and by a dearer route and whether at
railway risk or owners' risk in case alternative rates are available for the commodity.

All required entries on the front side of the F/Note are filled up by the consigner,
i.e. the person who books the consignment, and the reverse side by the goods
clerk/supervisor. the duly filled up F/Note become a contract or legal document under the
Indian Contract Act, 1972.

Different forms of forwarding notes printed on papers of different colours are

used for:

a. General merchandise (buff colour),

b. Animals and articles of special value enumerated in the second schedule to the
Railway Act (white colour), and
c. Explosives and Dangerous goods (pink colour)

EXAMINATION OF GOODS AND THEIR PACKING

If the booking is intended, the goods may be brought to the goods shed by the
consignor along with the forwarding note.

Traffic for wagonloads is to be brought for booking after allotment of a wagon against
the consignor's indent, for direct loading into the wagon.

When the goods are brought to the station for booking, the Goods Clerk should, as far
as possible, see that the description of the goods given in the forwarding note tallies with the
commodity offered for booking as there may be a mis-declaration on the part of the consignor
either out of mistake or with an intention to avail a lower rate or to circumvent some
provision of the law as in the case of contraband articles or inter-state restrictions, etc.

The goods clerk concerned should then check the condition of the goods and if the
goods are found in deteriorated or defective condition, he should obtain a remark regarding
the specific defect, in the forwarding note, from the consignor. Similarly, the goods clerk
should check the packing condition of the goods and for any defect noticed in this regard also
he should obtain remarks from the consignor in the forwarding note, such as 'gunnies old and
torn, contents dropping' or 'case weak, liable to give way during handling', etc.

Railways had earlier prescribed elaborate packing conditions for different types of
goods however now these have been simplified and limited to Six Packing conditions (for
Bagged consignments, Loose consignments etc.) and three special Packing conditions. These
are defined as minimum desirable packing conditions.

WEIGHMENT OF CONSIGNMENTS

All articles accepted for booking must be weighed and their weight recorded in the
railway receipt. For this purpose weighing machines have been provided in every goods shed
and parcel office. While booking wagonload consignments, it is not always necessary to
weigh the entire consignment. If it comprises of articles of standard size and weight, only a
few articles need be actually weighed and then the weight of the whole consignment can be
computed. There are, however, several cases in which weighment is not possible on the
station weighing machine as in the case of wagon load consignments of timber logs or loose
materials like gypsum, sand, coal etc. Such consignments have to be weighed on in-motion
weighbridges after being loaded in the wagon. If a weighbridge is not available at the station
at which such consignments are offered for booking, the RR is issued provisionally showing
the weight as declared by the sender and the wagon is marked for weighment at the nearest
station having a weigh bridge en-route of the consignment. The weighbridge station in
question is required to weigh and advise the weighment particulars to the booking and
destination stations. If at all, it is not feasible to weigh the consignment due to loose, bulky
nature or some other reasons, sender’s declared weight is accepted provided general safety
norms after loading is found acceptable. Such consignments are booked under Senders
Weight Accepted (SWA) remark, and the same is endorsed on the Railway Receipt (RR) so
as to avoid any claims by party on the weight account.

MARKING OF PACKAGES

All packages offered for booking either as parcels, luggage or goods must be marked
by the sender indicating the names and addresses of the consignor and consignee. In addition
railway marks are also put on the packages in black ink by railways staff. These marks should
indicate the names of the booking and destination stations, the RR number and the number of
packages booked under the RR. The usual manner of railway marks is as follows:

00976
BRCY ------------------------------------------------- NDLS
20

In this instance, BRCY is the code name of the booking station viz. Baroda; NDLS is
the code name of the destinations station viz. New Delhi, 976 represents the last 3 digits of
the RR under which the goods are booked and the number 20 indicates the number of
packages which are booked under this RR (In some zones full 6 digits of RR are written
instead of last three digits).

In case of parcels, there is a slight difference in the railway remark e.g.

345621
BRCY ------------------------------------------------- NDLS
20P

Here, BRCY & NDLS have the same nomenclature but 345621 - indicates the Parcel
Way Bill No. and 20 'P' indicates 20 packages booked as parcels. Railway mark on luggage
has similar system only suffix P is replaced by 'L'.

In the case of wagon load only 10% of the packages need be marked except when the
consignment is routed via transshipment point in which case all the individual packages
should be marked.
 Certain types of goods are not easily susceptible to durable and legible marking in
ink, such as rubber goods, iron & steel articles, goods packed in baskets, etc. In such cases
the consignors should stitch or attach pieces of cloth or gunny to the packages to enable
marking. Article of steel may be marked in white paint instead of ink.

LOADING OF CONSIGNMENTS

(a) Consignments of following descriptions are required to be loaded by the owners, i.e. the
consignors:

i. Goods consigned loose or in bulk

ii. Offensive goods
iii. Goods booked in wagon loads
iv. Motor vehicles etc. where a minimum weight for charge per article has been fixed.
v. Heavy machinery, long timber or other heavy articles weighing one tone or more per
piece
vi. Goods traffic booked to sidings

Goods, which are required to be loaded by the owners, are also to be unloaded by
them at the destination station. However, presently all the consignments are loaded and
unloaded by the consignors/consignees only, and not by the Railways. Mechanized loading is
usually promoted by Railways so that loading/unloading time and wagons availability is
saved besides other benefits to both Railways and party.

Subject to the exceptions mentioned above, the principle is that wagonload

consignments are to be loaded and unloaded by the owners.

(b) For loading heavy articles, it is sometimes necessary to use a crane. Important railway
stations are equipped with this facility. There are cranes of different capacity, 5 tonnes, 10
tonnes, 20 tonnes or more. These may be fixed or mobile cranes. A party requiring the use of
crane has to pay for it at a prescribed per hour rate. This charge is called cranage. When a
station is not provided with a crane and a mobile crane has to be brought from a different
station at the request of the party, a crane haulage charge is also recovered in addition to
cranage. However, this practice by Railways is very negligible these days.

(c) The loading (as well as unloading) by the parties is required to be completed within a
prescribed time, call free time from the time of placement of the wagon in position for this
purpose, when loaded with heavy articles. When the 'free time' is exceeded, demurrage is
recoverable at the prescribed rates which apply on per-hour-basis on the carrying capacity of
the wagon.

(d) A wagon supplied for loading must be reasonably clean and otherwise suitable for the
kind of traffic to be loaded. It should not have holes or panel cuts, and the case of goods
damageable by water, it should be watertight. Important stations are given special mechanical
staff and materials to attend to such wagon defects on the spot.

(e) The loading should be performed with due care and caution to avoid damage to the goods.
For example, heavier packages should not be placed in a manner, which would allow them to
roll or fall down during wagon movement etc. While loading bagged goods, a space of 18"
from the door side should be left vacant to prevent the risk of pilferage through door crevices;
in addition a few bags filled with straw or hay should be placed in the recent space. This is
called 'dunnage'. Packages must be handled carefully and use of hooks should be avoided in
the case of bagged goods, piece goods, etc. Moreover, the wagon should be evenly loaded.

When long articles such as rails, timber logs, etc. loaded on a wagon project beyond
the buffer, a dummy wagon should be used. Additional charges for dummy vehicles are
recovered from the parties.

(f) Supervision of Loading: All loading operations in the goods shed premises are required to
be supervised by the railway goods clerks concerned. At important stations, goods clerks are
separately earmarked for this purpose. They are called Tally Clerks also. They should see that
the loading is being done in proper manner and keep a count of the number of articles loaded.
They maintain Tally Books in which the articles loaded. They maintain Tally Books in which
the number and description of articles pertaining to each RR is entered at the time of loading.
The Tally Book also shows the wagon No. into which a consignment is loaded.

LABELING, PIVOTING & SEALING OF THE LOADED WAGONS

(a) Marking: The purpose of marking is to facilities dispatch of the consignments to their
correct destinations and their linkage to the specific Railway Receipts under which they are
booked. A similar purpose is served by labelling, which is done after completion, or loading.
There are two types: of labels, viz. -

1. Wagon labels and

2. Caution or pictorial labels.

Wagon labels are prepared on the paper cards of a size slightly bigger than post cards,
in a prescribed form. They contain name of the booking Railway, names of the booking and
destination stations, name of the consignee, description of the commodity, the invoices No.
Under which the consignment is booked, etc. These are to be written in blue pencil so that the
impression does not easily fade away or get washed out during rain. Three types; of wagon
labels are normally used, viz. paste-on labels, bracket labels and seal labels.

The paste-on labels are pasted on the inner panel of the wagon door on either side.
Some of the wagons have an inside pocket in which case this label can be placed and need
not be pasted. The bracket label is placed in the pockets provided outside on the wagon body.
The seal label is used in conjunction with sealing after the wagon doors are closed. On open
wagons, however, which are not sealed, the seal label is tied to the small handles provided on
the wagon doors on either side, in addition to the bracket labels.

Wagons containing fragile, damageable or dangerous goods are provided with caution
labels also some of which are printed in pictorial form. There are intended to attract attention
of the railway staff concerned with handling and shunting operation so that precautions in
handling, shunting; or; movement of the wagons, as may be appropriate to the commodity in
question, may be observed and any risk by way of damage or explosion may be avoided.
These labels are normally pasted on the wagon doors.
(b) Riveting: After completion of loading, the doors of all covered wagons are properly
closed and they are riveted, this is an important duty of the goods clerks as a precaution
against thefts from loaded wagons. But, wagons containing minerals, charcoal, firewood,
grass, livestock and offensive explosive and other dangerous goods are not to be riveted.

(c) Sealing of wagons: While riveting of wagons is meant for preventing thefts, sealing serves
the purpose of localizing them. After loading is completed and covered wagons are closed,
bolted and secured with rivets, they are sealed. Sealing is done under the supervision of a
responsible official in such a way that is not possible for any person to get at the goods
without breaking the seals. This is achieved by tying the seal card with a tape or wire and
covering the knot with melted wax or lead on which the Railway and station names are
impressed. Seals are of two kinds, viz. wax seals and wire lead seals.

Wagons containing commodities like explosives, gases, inflammable liquids,

inflammable solids, oxidizing substances, bhoosa etc are not sealed with wax, as this
necessitates the use of a lamp or a naked light near the wagons. Special lead seals with wire
shackles, supplied to stations booking these goods, are used for the purpose.

CALCULATION OF RATES & ISSUE OF RAILWAY RECEIPT

(a) Calculation of freight - The freight chargeable for a consignment mainly depends on the
following three factors, viz.

1. Weight -. The weight to be charged is as per the notified Permissible carrying capacity of
the wagon.

2. Distance - The minimum distance for charge is 100 kms. The distance between two
stations is ascertained with the help of the Distance Tables.

3. Classification of the commodity in question, as given in the IRCA Goods Tariff No. 45,
Part I, Vol. II.

These factors being known, the rate is worked out by consulting the Goods Rates
Tables (IRCA Freight Tariff Part II) provided for this purpose. The total freight is then
calculated for the given weight and it is rounded off as per rules given in the Goods Tariff,
Par I, Vol. I.

The Freight charges may also differ accordingly as the goods are booked by the
consignor at Railway Risk Rate (RR Rate) or Owner's Risk Rate (OR Rate) in cases where
OR rate is applicable to the commodity. Most of the commodities, however, are booked at
RR rate only. A party while booking a commodity normally charged at OR rate can avail RR
rate by paying 20% more freight but vice versa is not applicable.

Consignments booked from or to Out-Agencies are subject to an Out-Agency charge.

The freight charges for certain traffic are recoverable at the time of booking itself.
This is called 'paid' traffic. In other cases, the party can avail 'to pay' facility by paying 5%
extra charges over and above normal freight. This facility enables the party to pay due
charges at destination.
 Besides above, many other factors also affect the calculation of rates, they are –
concessions, incentive schemes, rake load or block load, commodity specific concessions,
peak season or lean season, type of commodity apart from general classification, like
essential commodities as declared by Govt. of India from time to time, etc.

(b) Issue of Railway Receipt - Normally, Railway Receipt can be issued of a wagon load
consignment, after it has been loaded into the wagon. Separate RR books are supplied to the
stations for 'Local' traffic i.e. traffic originating and terminating on the same Railway and for
'through' traffic which terminates on another Railway. Each of these categories also has
separate RR books for 'To Pay' traffic and 'Paid' traffic. RR is made out in four foils by using
the double-sided carbon paper. The first foil is for record; the second is the Receipt foil to be
given to the consignor. The third copy is for Accounts, and the fourth copy is called Invoice,
which accompanies the consignments in the wagon. A RR for 'through' traffic has one
additional foil i.e. the 5th, which is called transit invoices. The invoice copy of a 'through'
consignment is sent to the destination station by post and the transit Invoice accompanies the
consignment in the wagon.

The Railway Receipts are serially numbered. They contain names of the booking and
destination stations, names and addresses of the consignors and consignees, number of
wagons used, description of the goods books, number packages, actual weight, chargeable
weight, chargeable distance, classification at which charged, freight rate, other charges, total
freight etc. Normally, the number of packages should be clearly indicated but in cases where
the packages or pieces are so numerous and of varying sizes that they cannot be readily
counted, or the tally clerks have not supervised the loading, only a "said-to-contain" RR is
issued as per declaration of the sender, such as said-to-condition 600 logs. Similarly, in cases
where there is some defect in the packing of the consignment, these have to be clearly
brought out in the RR such as "P/8 not complied with, bags used are old and torn, contents
liable to drop in transit", or "goods in damp condition, liable to deteriorate and lose weight in
transit", etc. If the weighment of the consignment is not possible for some reason, a "sender's
weight accepted" remark is also passed on the railway receipt. RRs with one or more of such
remarks are called ‘qualified RRs’. These remarks are intended to guard the railway against
claims for compensation for which the railway is not responsible. A RR without any such
remarks is called a ‘clear R.R.’.

A consignment may be booked in favour of a particular consignee mentioned by

name. It may also be booked to 'self' in which case the delivery of the goods is given to the
person in whose favour it may be endorsed by the consignor. The RR is accordingly made out
showing the name of the particular consignee or 'self' in his place.

Under FOIS (Freight Operation Information System) TMS (Terminal Management

System) has successfully implemented at all the terminal (goods sheds). RRs are issued
through the TMS only and payment is realized through e-payment (under tri-partite
agreement – Railways, Party/Consignee and Bank).

UNLOADING OF CONSIGNMENTS & DELIVERY OF GOODS TRAFFIC

At every goods shed, the unloading of consignments is done by party, i.e. Consignee,
and supervised by the Goods Clerks. When a wagon/rake is received at the destinations
station, its time of placement and release as well as any defect in the seals, and shortage or
damage to the consignment, are noted in the Unloading Register maintained for this purpose.
The time of placement and release is essential for recovery of demurrage in respect of
consignments which are required to be loaded and unloaded by the owners.

If any deficiency or damage is noticed, in side wagon itself when opened & before
unloading or unloading of a wagon, the Station Master and a representative of the Railway
Protection Force, if available at the station, are to be sent for, and the consignments are
checked in their presence. The result of the check is recorded in their presence along with the
weight of defective packages found during the check.

The shortage or deficiency noticed in the consignments is reported by telegram to the

booking station, any other station enroute if that station had dealt with the consignment, as
may be inferred from the seal on the wagon, and to a representative of the RPF. This message
is to be issued within 6 hours from the time of opening the wagon for unloading. If the
deficiency is noticed from a wagon whose seals were found defective, a copy; of this message
is sent to the Railway Police and a written complaint of theft is also lodged with it. This
message is called ‘Damage and Deficiency Message or DD Message’.

Sometimes, excess packages may also be found in the wagons and these are reported
to the booking and last sealing stations as soon as the excess is noticed. This is done with a
view to looking their instructions regarding disposal of the excess goods. Party is not allowed
to take delivery of excess packages until such instructions are received.

Any damage noticed in the consignment e.g. damage by wet, is also to be similarly
reported on the date of unloading.

WEIGHMENT OF GOODS AT RECEIVING STATIONS (RE-WEIGHMENT)

In order to guard against deliberate or inadvertent under-weighment at the booking

stations, the receiving stations are required to exercise a check on the weight entered on
invoices. This check should be made by reweighing immediately after unloading.
Reweighing may also have to be done to assess weight of shortages or for giving partial
delivery of consignments. Any variation in booked weight and this weighment up to plus-
minus 2% of total weight, subject to a maximum of 2 quintals per wagon for all commodities
and 4 quintals in case of jute, is ignored. But if the weight found is in excess, undercharges
should be raised.

Appreciable under-weighments which would have resulted in loss of revenue and

frequent discrepancies between invoiced weight and the weight found on re-weightment of
consignments booked from any particular stations, are reported to the Sr.DCM or DCM
concerned and the CCM for taking up with the staff of the forwarding station.

REWEIGHMENT AT THE REQUEST OF OWNERS

 Railways do not undertake to weigh consignments at the destination station as matter
of course. Such weighment can only be considered in exceptional cases, when the condition
of the consignment or package warrants this.

Request for reweighment from the consignee in respect of wagonloads are referred to
the Sr. DCM or DCM, who may permit reweighment at his direction if facilities for
reweighment exist at the destination.

When the request of a consignor or a consignee for re-weighment of wagon load

consignments at destination station is accepted on merits of the case, by the Sr.DCM or DCM
the charges notified for re-weighment are collected in advance. In addition, demurrage
charges due under the rules are also recovered if the request for re-weighment is received
after placement of the wagon for unloading.

CHECK OF INWARD INVOICES & RECOVERY OF UNDERCHAGES

Immediately on receipt of the invoices, the freight and other charges shown thereon
are rechecked at the destination station and undercharges, if any, noticed during this check,
are recovered at the time of delivery, along with other charges due.

Station Masters should allow refund of overcharges at the time of delivery in the case
of consignments booked freight To Pay, where it is clear that the charges invoiced are
incorrect due to any of the following reasons, provided the consignment tallies with the
description shown in the invoice.

1. Error in rate not affected by description or condition of carriage. 2. Error in classification

i.e. an error where a consignment is correctly described but charged under a wrong class; and
3. Error in calculation.

DELIVERY OF GOODS ON PRODUCTION OF R.R.

The person claiming delivery is required to produce the receipt granted to the sender
at the forwarding station. Goods are not to be delivered to any person other than the invoiced
or endorsed consignee.

If a person claiming goods as the agent of the invoiced consignee presents an

unendorsed railway receipt, delivery should be withheld if such person cannot produce a
properly prepared and stamp 'Power of Attorney'.

After delivering the consignment, the signature of the consignee is taken in the
Delivery Book.

DELIVERY OF GOODS WHEN RR IS NOT AVAILABLE

When an RR is lost, mislaid, or is for other reasons, not forthcoming, the railway can
grant delivery on the authority of an Indemnity Note to be executed on a non-judicial stamp
paper of the value chargeable in a State.

Indemnity Bond on un-stamped paper may also be accepted in the following cases, viz.
 1. Station Masters may, at their discretion, allow delivery of such articles of trifling
value as required, speed delivery, to well-known persons on unstamped indemnity
note.
2. Station Masters may similarly, at their discretion, allow delivery of perishable articles
on unstamped Indemnity Note.
3. When a Government official is the consignee in his official capacity, he need not
execute the Indemnity Note on a stamped paper, but he has to execute the same on a
standard unstamped Indemnity Bond.
4. Consignments booked to registered co-operative societies.

In case of goods consigned by a sender to 'SELF' when the Railway Receipt is lost or
otherwise not forthcoming, delivery may be granted only when the person claiming the
consignments produces a stamped Indemnity Note duly executed by the consignor, and
countersigned by S.M. of the booking station under his signature and station stamp. The note
must also be endorsed by the sender in favour of the person to whom the consignment is to be
delivered. It is further incumbent on the person claiming delivery to execute a second
stamped Indemnity Note, duly signed by him along with a surety and two witnesses to the
satisfaction of the Station Master at the destination station before delivery can be affected.

Indemnity Note is required to be executed in the presence of the S.M. as provided on

the form itself. However, if a consignee is unable to appear personally before the S.M., for
the execution of the Note, he may execute it before a Magistrate or a Justice of Peace, who
will attest it under his official seal. Such attested Indemnity Notes may also be accepted even
though they are not executed in the presence of the Station Master.

Parties of repute having regular dealing with railways can get a facility of "general
Indemnity Bond". This is extended by CCM on request for a period of 6 months. Vide such
parties need not execute a separate Indemnity Bond for every wagon. They can take delivery
at all such wagons on the G.I. Bond provided relevant RR is produced in ten days. If that is
not done a separate I/Bond has to be executed in respect of all such cases. Wagons booked to
"Self" cannot be delivered on this General Indemnity Bond.

OPEN DELIVERY AND ASSESSMENT DELIVERY

Sometimes, a consignment is received at the destination station with a shortage in the

number of package or a partial shortage of contents in some packages or in a broken or
damaged/deteriorated condition. In such cases, the consignee may ask for verification of the
contents or assessment of the damage with a view to recovering monetary compensation from
the railway. He may make a request to the Station Master to this effect. He thus may not
agree for taking normal delivery of his consignments but ask for special one through
tendering application. These special forms of delivery are called as ‘Open Delivery’ or
‘Assessment Delivery’, besides some others.

S.No. Open Delivery Assessment Delivery

1 If it is a question of verifying the If it is a question of assessing the damage or
shortages. deterioration.
2 A representative of the RPF is also If the assessment; of damage in a certain
associated for witnessing the case involves technical questions with
 shortages. which the commercial authorities are not
conversant, they may associate an
independent technical expert in the
proceedings
3 The consignment is jointly surveyed, The damaged goods are segregated and
the affected packages are weighed and arranged into different lots accordingly as
an account of the shortage is made out the damage is more or less in the different
by comparing the contents actually lots and the loss value due to the damage is
found with those shown in the party's expressed in terms of percentage.
‘RR’ or ‘beejuk’.
4 Then a report is drawn up giving Care is taken to see if the alleged damage
details of the joint observation and it is had already not occurred before the goods
signed by representatives of the were booked, as may be evident from old
Railways as well as the consignee. stains on the containers and remarks on the
RR etc.
5 Care has to be taken to see that the Such observations are recorded in the
report contains a factual account of all Assessment Report, which is signed by
relevant aspects of properly establish representatives of the Railway and the
specific shortages, if any, and consignee and a copy thereof is given to the
information on other aspects which consignee.
would enable the claims office to take
a decision as to whether the railway is
responsible or not for payment of
compensation. A copy of the Open
Delivery Report is given to the
consignee.
6 It occurs due to theft or some other It occurs due to inherent property or
reasons causing shortage. improper handling of the consignment –
damage casued due to moister, water
seepage, very long transit time, breaking,
etc.
7 It occurs for general nature It occurs for commodities, which have less
commodities. shelf life, perishables – fruits, vegetable,
milk, onion, potato, and also fertilizers,
cement, cereals, etc.

Station Masters of larger stations are empowered to grant assessment Deliveries in

cases where the value of the loss in a consignment is not likely to exceed Rs. 3,000/-. At
smaller stations, the Station Masters call the Commercial Inspector of the Section who is
vested with similar powers for this purpose. But, in case the shortage or damage is more
extensive and is likely to exceed Rs. 3,000/- in value, the Station Master has to call a
Commercial Officer from the Divisional Headquarters. Suitable time and date are fixed in
advance for this purpose when the consignee is asked to attend the Open or Assessment
Delivery.

The open/Assessment delivery is granted without prejudice and this is mentioned on

the report. The implications is that the report is only a factual statement about the
consignment and it does not, in any way, establish the Railway's liability which is decided at
a later stage in terms of the compensation if the party prefers a claim against the Railways.

DEMURRAGE AND WHARFAGE

At the time of delivery of consignments, the consignees have to pay the freight and
other charges due as shown in the R.R. as well as the undercharges due, if any. In addition,
they may have to pay charges called 'demurrage' and 'wharfage', if the time allowed for
unloading and removal of the consignments from railway premises is exceeded. These
charges are, therefore, in the nature of penalty to ensure quick release of the wagons and
vacation of the railway premises after expiry of a reasonable time allowed for these purposes.
The time so allowed is called 'free time'.

S.No. Demurrage Wharfage

1 It is the charge recovered from a party Wharfage is charged for non-removal of the
for detaining a wagon/wagons for goods from the railway premises after the
loading or unloading beyond 'free free time allowed for this purpose.
time'.
2 The ‘Free time’ permissible depend on This 'free time' extends till the closing time
factors, like different types of wagons of goods shed on the day following the day
and certain commodities for manual on which they are made available for
and mechanized loading/unloading, delivery. In some goods shed any Sundays,
season – lean or busy, etc. 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October
are not reckoned in calculating the free time
i.e. these are treated as "Dies-non", i.e. if
they fall within the "free time", then the free
time is extended by one more day.

3 Demurrage for excess detention is The rate at which wharfage is charged

levied on entire rake. The entire group varies according to the importance of the
of wagons placed for stations.
loading/unloading shall be treated as
one unit for the purpose of levy of
demurrage charges i.e. even if one
wagon out of the group is detained for
loading/ unloading beyond the
prescribed free time, demurrage will
be leviable on all the wagons in the
group.
4 In case of goods sheds and railway The stations are divided in three groups
sidings where the placement capacity depending upon the avg. no. of rakes dealt
is less than a rake, the free time starts between 1st Jan. and 30th April. Group I -
with the placement of 1st part of the More than 12 rakes / month, Group II-
rake. However, intervening periods Between 7 and 12 rakes /month & Group III
between the time of completion of - Less than 7 rakes / month. The Free time
loading/unloading of the 1st part and for removal of goods is Group I – 12hrs.
time of placement of 2nd part of the ,Group II-15 hrs. & Group III- 48 hrs. from
same rake for loading/unloading, is expiry of free time for loading / unloading.
treated as dies-non. Demurrage for However for live stock it is 3 hrs. from
excess detention is levied on entire expiry of free time for loading / unloading.
rake. Excess detention should be
calculated by deducting the
permissible free time and periods of
dies-non from the period of total
detention (i.e. period from the time of
placement of 1st part to the release
time of last wagon) of the rake.

5 Demurrage charge is levied @Rs.150/- The wharfage charges ( w.e.f.01/04/2013)

per 8-wheeled wagon per hour, or part will be levied on per hour basis uniformally
of an hour, for detention of wagon in for all types of wagons, whether 4 wheeler
excess of the permissible free time for or 8 wheeler or any other type as given
loading or unloading. below:

Group I Rs.150/- per wagon per hour or part thereof

Group II Rs.120/- per wagon per hour or part thereof
Group III Rs.75/- per wagon per hour or part thereof

REBOOKING AND DIVERSION

Sometimes, the consignor or the consignee requests change in the destination station
of the consignments after booking due to his own business reasons. For this two situations
arise primarily due to time factor as when he tenders his request for such change in
destination station, which is different from the original one mentioned in the F/Note and RR.
Thus he makes request either for ‘Diversion’ or for ‘Rebooking’.

The difference between Diversion and Rebooking is illustrated as below:

S.No. Diversion Rebooking
1 Diversion of a consignment is done Rebooking to a different station is done
when the train has not passed the after it is received at the original
diversion point. destination.
2 Permissible in respect of train load The consignor or the consignee, as the case
consignments only with the approval may be, should apply to the S.M. of the
of the COMs. station at which the consignment is stored.
3 The original RR is surrendered and The original RR should be forwarded to the
supersessional RR is issued S.M. with an application along with a duly
executed forwarding note, and a new R is
issued for the new destination.
4 The diversion is granted only if the The goods are re-booked subject to the
consignment has not already reached route being open for rebooking, and only if
the original destination and subject to the consignment required to be rebooking,
the condition that if, despite efforts on and only if the consignment required being
the part of the Railway, the goods still in defective condition, the S.M. will advise
happen to reach the original the consignor or consignee, as the case may
destination, the party would take be, of the condition and weight, etc. of the
delivery there. consignment.
5 No fresh Forwarding Note is required. On receipt of this advice from the S. M., the
consignor or consignee should sign a fresh
forwarding note entering thereon all the
particulars including the remarks given by
the S.M., as to the actual condition and
weight of the consignment, and send it to
the S.M. for rebooking.
6 No demurrage and wharfage is All charges including demurrage and
involved in this case. wharfage etc. due at the rebooking station
are entered in the rebooking RRs as "Paid-
on-to-Pay". Where pre-payment of freight is
compulsory, the charges are collected
before rebooking.
7 All goods are allowed to be diverted Perishable goods and goods on which
provided the new destination is open percentage charges on value has been paid
for receiving the consignment. are not rebooked.
8 Diversion Fee is required to be paid. No such fee except freight for the new
And, If diversion takes place, the distance from the original destination to the
difference of freight due between the new destination is required.
original destination and the diverted
point is recovered at the time of
delivery.
9. Telescopic rates are extended to the No telescopic rate is extended in this case.
party.
DISPOSAL OF UNDELIVERED CONSIGNMENTS

After the termination of transit, a railway administration is accountable for the consignments
for a period of seven days as a bailee.

TRANSIT TERMINATES

(a) In the case of goods and animals to be unloaded by the consignees:

If the wagon is not unloaded within the

On the expiry of such free time
free time allowed
If the wagon is unloaded within free On the expiry of free time allowed for removal of
time allowed such goods or animals from the railway premises
In the case of goods and animals not On the expiry of the free time allowed for removal
required to be unloaded by consignee of such goods or animals from the railway premises

After the expiry of seven days from the termination of transit, the railway is not
responsible for any loss destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of goods, arising
from any cause whatsoever. In the case of 'excepted' articles, that is those mentioned in the
Second Schedule to the I.R. Act, animals, explosives and other dangerous goods, however the
railway's responsibility ceases after the termination of transit itself, i.e. there is no bailies
liability in respect of these articles.

Goods still lying with the railway after the period stated above may be disposed of by
public auction after giving a notice under the I.R. Act to the consignee or the consignor. This
notice stipulates a period of 15 days from its receipt by the party, within which the party
should remove the goods after paying the charges due to the railways. If the goods still
remain undelivered, the railway can dispose them off by auction and the sale proceeds are
adjusted towards the charges due to the railway. If any balance amount is still left with the
railway, it can be paid to the consignee.

In actual practice, wagonload consignments are auctioned at the destination station

itself after giving publicity in the local newspapers unless the local area is so unimportant that
the goods are not likely to fetch a reasonable price at the auction. In that case, the
consignment is transferred to the nearest important station for auction. Small consignments
are, however, not auctioned at the destination station. They are sent to the Railway's Lost
Property Office where auctions are conducted periodically.

PARCEL BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION

Parcel is another coaching business apart from Passenger business. Small

commodities – households or of business purposes are carried in coaching stock, which is
attached in passenger carrying trains, Mail/Exp. or Passenger. Consignments are loaded in
SLRs, where Guard cabin is housed and in Parcel vans, popularly known as VPUs. When
parcels are in plenty for a destination, special parcel trains are run like other coaching trains.
 Usually the parcels are loaded in SLRs in piece-meals or smalls, which are loaded and
unloaded by Railways. However, parcels to be loaded in leased SLRs and VPUs are loaded
and unloaded by the party, consigner/consignee or endorsee concerned.

Unlike Freight (Goods) business, parcel business has not been smooth in Railways. It
is not generating desired earnings, and hence losses are incurred keeping huge inputs required
to run the business. Customers’ expectations are very high, which usually are not fulfilled. To
streamline it, Railways has been launching Parcel Management System (PMS) like FOIS;
however, it is not very encouraging. Though, special parcel trains and leased SLR/VPUs
yield some good results.

Handling parcels is similar to goods traffic; however, certain differences are there.

STEPS IN PARCEL BOOKING

• Execution of Forwarding Note (F/Note): Different for following -

– Dangerous goods

– Explosives for defense

– Animals and general merchandise

– General F/Note.

• Examination of parcels: Done by Railways in accordance with details mentioned by

consigner in F/Note

• Packing of parcels: Done by consigner in accordance with required packing

conditions prescribed by Railways.

• Marking of parcels – Done by Railways – Parcel clerk/marker to give identity to each

package.

• Weighment of parcels – Done by Railways – by weight or by volume.

• Charging of the parcels – Done as per extant rate table, scale and other conditions
applicable.

• Preparation of parcel way bill – Done in 4 or 5 copies – local or foreign; the copy for
the consigner is called the Railway Receipt (RR)

ISSUE OF PARCEL WAY BILL

• Pre payment of charges is a must.

• Local and foreign way bills, both have four copies, viz. Record, Way bill, Account &
Guard copies.

• Percentages charges collected on certain items, for motor vehicles it is compulsory.

• Charge decided by type of service, distance and weight of parcel.

PARCEL RATES

• Minimum Distance for booking is 50 km. And minimum charge is Rs. 30/-

• In case of news papers and magazines the minimum distance for charge is 250km and
min. charge is Rs. 2/-

• For distance for charge

– First slab is 1-50 kms.

– 10 km slabs (51 kms – 800 kms.)

– 25 kms. Slabs ( 801 – 2050 kms)

_ 50 kms. Slabs (2051 – 5000 kms)

• Rates specified for each scale S, P and R separately.

• Rates specified according to distance slabs and weight slabs of 10 Kgs.

SCALES FOR PARCEL (AND LUGGAGE) BOOKING

Scale Types of Service Types of Trains

L All Luggage All Trains
R Rajdhani service All Rajdhani trains
P Premier Parcel service Notified Mail/Exp and Shatabdi Exp trains of
all types of special Parcel trains having
utilization > 60%
S Standard Parcel service Ordinary passenger trains and other Mail/Exp
trains and Shatabdi Exp trains

• The Zonal Railways will notify such Mail/Express/Shatabdi trains for Premier Parcel
Service whose utilisation of parcel space during the preceding twelve months was
60% or more.

• The notification will be issued by the zonal railways separately for Up and Down
directions of the trains.

• All special parcel trains, fruit specials to be charged at Scale-P.

• Reserve price for leasing out Millenium Parcel trains – Scale P.

• Newspapers and magazines at 45 % of Scale S.

• However, Railway Board circulates a detailed list of trains by which parcels under
different scales are booked.

BULKY ARTICLES
Bulky articles are usually not booked by weight, but by volume.

• On BG & MG no package exceeding 1.5 quintals (150Kgs) in weight or 2m x 1.5m x

1.25m in outside measurement is accepted except by prior arrangements.(Bulky
articles).

• Bulky articles can be booked with prior arrangements but charged 25% extra.

• If Bulky articles occupy full vehicle then charged for 6 tonnes per 4 wheeler(BG) and
4.5 tonnes on MG.

• Parcels are charged either by weight or by measurement which ever is more ( 28

cu.decimeter = 4Kg.)

ARTICLES NOT ACCEPTED AS PARCELS

Following articles are not accepted as parcels:

• Uranium, Uranium concentrate, Thorium, Thorium nitrate, Thorium oxide, Heavy

water and other Radio-active materials.

• Offensive articles.

• Wet skins (other than wet skins of wild animals securely packed in air-tight boxes at
Owner’s Risk).

• Acids and corrosive substances as provided in Red tariff are not accepted as parcels.

RMC (Railway Material Consignment) is also booked in parcel. The chargeable

freight is realized by raising debits against concerned Railway department. It is booked as
any normal parcel; however, it is accepted in RMC Note

CARRIAGE OF LUGGAGE
• Passenger are allowed to carry limited luggage with them free of charge.(Free
allowance)

• Max.Limit (in compartment) – charged at normal rates.

• If luggage is more than the Max. limit then to be booked in Brake van.

• Free allowance is granted if the total weight of the luggage is within Free allowance
+ Marginal allowance.Excess weight is charged at 1.5 times luggage rates.(Min.
Rs.30)

• If luggage is more than Free allowance + Marginal allowance then excess weight
above Free allowance to be charged at 6 times the normal luggage rates.(min. Rs.50).

• If luggage is more than the Max. limit then no Free allowance is given and the entire
weight of the luggage is charged at 6 times the Normal luggage rate.
 Free and Marginal Allowance
Class Free Allowance Marginal Maximum quantity permitted (Kg)
(Kg) Allowance (Kg) (including Free Allowance)
AC – I 70 15 150
AC – II, FC 50 10 100
AC – III, CC 40 10 90
SL 40 10 80
II 35 10 70

BOOKING OF LUGGAGE AT STARTING STATION (IN PARCEL OFFICE)

• Passengers carrying luggage more than free allowance are required to book them well
before the arrival of the train in the parcel office of the starting station.

• Luggage not fully addressed in English or Hindi is not accepted for booking.

• Luggage not securely packed will not be accepted unless a Forwarding Note is
executed recording the defects or improper packing.

• Luggage should be presented at least 30 mins. before the scheduled departure of the
train.

• Dispatch of the luggage by any particular train is not guaranteed.

• Max. dimension 2m x 1.5m x1.25m and max. weight 150 kgs. ( In Brake-van)

• Size of articles of luggage: I AC, FC and II AC - Luggage exceeding the size 100cm x
60cm x 25cm is suppose to be carried in brake van. III-AC - The limit of size of
luggage is 55cm x 45cm x 22.5cm. ACC & CC - The limit is 63cm x 37cm x 20cm.

• However, certain articles are free and are not calculated in weighment of luggage. In
AC I and first class – Tiffin baskets including small ice boxes, small hand bag or brief
cases (not suit cases), walking sticks and umbrella are such free articles. In second
class –Umbrella, Walking stick and such articles of food as may be required during
the journey are not weighed.

• When breaking journey: Passenger may book luggage to accompany them throughout
or book portion of the luggage direct to station or by route covered by ticket or the
cheapest route. Free allowance is given for the luggage booked by the same route as
the passenger.

ARTICLES NOT TO BE BOOKED AS LUGGAGE

• Offensive goods: Dried blood, Dead bodies, Carcasses of Dead animals, Bones
excluding bleached and cleaned bones, Municipal or street sweepings or refuse,
Manures of any kind including mycellium except chemical manures, Rags other than
oily rags, Any decayed animal or vegetable matter, Human ashes, Human skeleton,
Parts of human body

• Explosives, dangerous, inflammable articles

• Bulky articles: Exceeding 280 cubic decimeters.

 • Oil, paint, ghee, grease etc.

• Dry grass and leaves, waste paper

• Dead poultry

CLAIMS, LIABILITIES OF RAILWAYS AND RAILWAY CLAIMS

TRIBUNAL (RCT)
INTRODUCTION

A Railway claim may be defined as a formal demand by the rightful claimant for
compensation in respect of the goods or animals entrusted to the Railway Administration for
carriage from one station to the other and that have not reached the destination in the
condition handed over by virtue of:

a) Complete non-delivery of the consignment.

b) Partial delivery of the consignment.

c) Pilferage, damage, deterioration of packages.

d) Rotting of perishables like fruits and vegetables

Claims are preferred by claimants against Railways for compensation due to any
damage or loss, etc for their commodities or themselves while consuming the services of
Railways as bonafide buyers. Railways is liable to compensate them due to liabilities they
bear being a service provider. The office of Chief Claims Officer (CCO) deals with all types
of settlement of claims including refunds in passenger business and dealings with Railway
Claims Tribunal (RCT), different courts, Consumer Forums, etc for settling claims
compensation cases.

WHO CAN CLAIM?

• Consignee - at the destination the rightful claimant who is entitled to compensation is

the consignee or
• Endorsee - endorsed consignee that is the person for whom endorsement is made in
the Railway Receipt for delivering the same to him.
• Consignor - Will have to produce the authority from the consignee to receive the
claim.
CLAIM SETTLEMENT
Claim for compensation should be made either to - booking Railway, destination
Railway, or the Railway on which loss, damage or partial shortage has taken place.
 Claim settlement is always done in destination railway. If claim is not filed with the
destination Railway, it will have to be forwarded to the destination Railway. However, to
avoid delay, claim should be filed with the destination Railway.
Claim has to be filed either with General Manager, Chief Commercial Manager, Chief
Claims Officer of the concerned Railway or at station goods shed or parcel office.

Claim should be filed within 6 months from the date of booking of goods or animals
else Claim becomes Time barred (generally not entertained). Even if the consignment has not
arrived within 6 months from the date of booking or if goods are lying in dispute for
assessment of damage, waiver of wharfage charges etc.The General Managers of zonal
railways are however, empowered to settle time-barred cases at their discretion after
satisfying themselves about the reasonableness of late filing of claims.

A claims case which becomes three years old is termed as suit-barred and thus, no suit
can be filed against the railways for want of relevant documents (not accompanying the
claims notice), or for want of some clarification from the party, etc. after which the claim is
normally repudiated. However, in some cases, the delay in settlement of claims is on account
of the railways for want of report of the tracing inspectors, and/or for fixing of Inter-railway
liability & Staff responsibility, etc. resulting in the case becoming suit-barred. Such cases are
not repudiated casually as suit-barred but are decided on merit of the case. The General
Managers of zonal railways enjoy the discretionary powers for waiver of suit-bar aspect.

False Claims are also preferred by some persons for some ulterior motives. Under
Section 149 of the Railways Act, 1989 if any person requiring compensation from a railway
administration for loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of any
consignment makes a claim which is false or which he knows or believes to be false or does
not believe to be true, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to three years, or with fine, or with both.

ORGANISATIONAL SET UP OF CLAIMS ORGANIZATION

Each Zonal Railway has a regular Claims Settling Office headed by a Chief Claims
Officer to deal with claims for compensation and each officer has been assigned the
Monetary Limit to settle claims.

Authority Monetary Limit (Rs.)

General Manager Unlimited
CCM (PHOD/CHOD) 4,00,000/-
CCO/CCM (HOD) 2,00,000/- (4,00,000/- for compensation claims)
Dy CCM/CCO 60,000/-
SCM 15,000/-
ACM 8,000/-

LIABILITIES OF RAILWAYS

As per the Railways Act, 1989 there are three types of liabilities, which are born by
Railways
 • Absolute liability

• Liability as a common carrier

• Bailee’s liability

Absolute liability is applicable to passenger traffic only. All bonafide passengers are
required to be compensated against their claims for any injury or death occurring to them.
Two sections, 124 and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989 illustrate the details regarding this.

• Section 124 - If a passenger suffers any injury or loss of life due to train accident Rly.
Administration is liable to pay compensation to such passenger. The amount of the
compensation is to be fixed by the Govt. of India.

• Section 124 A – includes responsibility of Railways in case of untoward incidence

(U/I) causing injury – simple or grievous.

The Railway Board circulates a list of all loss/injury, viz. death, other injury related
losses, etc against which amount of compensation is prescribed. Presently, in death cases
Rs.4,00,000/- (four lakh) is to be given by the Railways to the next kin of the deceased if
required as per the decision given by the RCT. Usually interest payment is also made as per
the decision of the RCT for late payment, etc.

Liability as a common carrier is dealt in Section 93 of the Railways Act, 1989. Under
this, Railway administration shall be responsible for any loss, destruction, damage or
deterioration in transit or non delivery of any consignment arising from any cause except –

Act of God, Act of war, Act of public enemy, Arrest, restrain or seizure under legal
processes, Orders of restriction imposed by central or state Govt., Act or omission or
negligence of consignor, consignee or endorsee or the agent or the servant of the
consignee or consignor, Inherent defect, Latent defect, and Fire, explosion or any
unforeseen risk, etc.

Bailee’s liability under Section 99 of the Railways Act, 1989 describes responsibility
of Railway administration after termination of transit. Transit commences as soon as the
Railway receipt is issued or the consignment is loaded.When consignment to be unloaded by
the customer -

• If Unloaded within free time the transit will terminate on the expiry of the free
time allowed for removal of goods from the railway premise.

• If not unloaded within free time allowed, the transit will terminate on the
expiry of free time for unloading.

Railway administration shall be responsible as a bailee under Section 151, 152 & 161
of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-
delivery of any consignment up to a period of seven days after the termination of transit.
Provided that where the consignment is at owner's risk rate, the railway administration shall
not be responsible as a bailee for such loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery
except on proof of negligence or misconduct on the part of the railway administration or of
any of its servants.

Further under Section 100 of the Railways Act, 1989, Railway administration shall
not be responsible for the loss, destruction, damage, deterioration or non-delivery of any
luggage unless a railway servant has booked the luggage and given a receipt therefore and, in
the case of luggage which is carried by the passenger in his charge, unless it is also proved
that the loss, destruction, damage or deterioration was due to the negligence or misconduct on
its part or on the part of any of its servants.

Under Section 101 Railway administration shall not be responsible for any loss or
destruction of, or injuries to, any animal carried by railway arising from fright or restiveness
of the animal or from overloading of wagons by the consignor.

EX-GRATIA AND INTERIM RELIEF

Ex-Gratia Interim Relief

• Ex-gratia relief is given by the railway • If a person who has made an
administration soon after an accident application under Section 125
normally at the rate of: (Claim) wants an interim relief, may
– Rs.15,000/- in case of death; apply to Railway administration.
– Rs.5,000/- in the case of • It is always applied through RCT.
grievous injury, and • Interim relief paid immediately, if
– Rs.500/- for simple injury. satisfied after enquiry in this regard.
• The ex-gratia is intended to meet the • Interim relief cannot be more than
immediate expenses and is not taken the compensation payable.
into account at the time of final • After payment –copy to be sent to
settlement of compensation claims. RCT.
• No ex-gratia is given to the victims of • Interim relief to be taken into
unmanned level crossing. account while determining amount
• However, the amount of ex-gratia to of compensation by Railway Claims
road users who meet an accident due Tribunal.
to railways’ prima facie liability at
manned level crossing is as follows:
• Death - Rs.6, 000/-, Grievous Injury -
Rs.2, 500/-Simple Injury - NIL.
• In case of road users who are dead or
injured at manned level crossings,
such payments will be counted
towards the amount of compensation
granted by a court of law.

NON RECEIVED (NR) CELL

In order to achieve the objective of giving better after-sale service to the customers
Indian Railways have established "Not Received Cells” (NR Cells) at Divisional & Zonal
level. The duties of these Cells involve tracing and connecting consignments which do not
reach the desired destination within reasonable transit-time. For even better monitoring of
cases, an NR Cell is also working at Railway Board. An aggrieved customer can directly
contact the NR Cell/concerned officer on phone or by E-mail. However, post-FOIS, the role
of NR Cell has been relieved a lot.
RAILWAY CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (RCT)

RCTs were set up under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987. The Tribunal has 21
benches at 18 major cities in the country. An RCT can handle cases of more than one
Railway zone.

The main objective of setting up of the Tribunal is to provide quicker relief and early
payment of compensation for:

– For death and injury in case of railway accident & untoward incident - the
claimant has to file the claim directly before the Railway Claims Tribunal.

– For loss, destruction, damage, deterioration, non-delivery of animal/goods

booked by railway or for the refund of fare or freight in case the claimant is
not satisfied with the relief provided by the railway administration.

The Railway Claims Tribunal has the powers of a District Court and appeal against its
decision lies in the High Court. It is not bound by procedure laid down by Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 but guided by principles of natural justice.

Powers and authority of RCT are as of civil courts like:

– Summoning any person and examining on oath.

– Requiring of production of documents.

– Receiving evidences on affidavits.

– Requisitioning any public record.

– Issuing commissions for examination of witness.

– Reviewing its decision.

– Dismissing an application for default or deciding ex-party.

– Setting aside any order or dismissal or ex-party decision

Compensation claim - Apply within 1 year of the occurrence of the

accident/incidence. No liability in the case of collision between trains and road vehicles at
level crossings in which railway passengers are not involved and cases of persons run over by
the trains. However, in such cases damages can be sought under Law of Torts.

CARRIAGE OF RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES

A list of articles of railway materials, stores, publications, etc., which are carried free,
appears in the I.R.C.A. Goods and Coaching tariffs. In such cases, free to-pay invoices/way
bills should be issued.

AUTHORITY FOR DESPATCH

The rates for railway materials and stores booked by a goods train apply subject to the
condition that the materials, stores, etc. are for the use of an Indian Government Railways,
consigned by and to officials of these railways in their official capacity and are authorised
and accompanied by a railway material consignment note.

RAILWAY MATERIAL CONSIGNMENT (RMC) NOTE

Railway materials and stores tendered for despatch by goods trains should be
accompanied by a Railway Material Consignment Note in Form Com. R/I Rev. Similar to
Forwarding Notes (F/Notes) these forms are machine numbered and supplied to the officials
authorised to issue the same, in sets of three foils, bound in books, to be written by carbon
process. The first foil is the record foil to be retained by the issuing official, the second is the
station foil to serve as an authority under which the consignment is booked and will be
retained at the forwarding station, and the third will be the Accounts Office foil meant for the
Traffic Accounts Office of the forwarding railway. The foils mark 'station' and 'Accounts
office' will both be tendered by the department concerned at the booking station along with
the materials to be consigned.

LIST OF OFFICIALS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE THE RAILWAY MATERIAL

CONSIGNMENT NOTES

A list of officials authorized to issue the railway material consignment notes will be
supplied by each railway administration to its station staff and the Traffic Accounts office.

USE OF RAILWAY MATERIAL CONSIGNMENT NOTE

The RMC Note should be used only for the carriage by goods train of railway
materials and stores of Indian Government Railways, consigned by and to officials of such
railways in their official capacity for construction, revenue of stock purposes, both in local
and through bookings. The use of these consignment notes is not permitted in the case of
stores sold or consigned to non-Government railways, other Government Department (not
forming part of the railway system) or to outsiders. Such consignments should be dealt with
under the ordinary rules and booked on forms used for public traffic. Similarly, stores or
materials supplied by contractors are not to be booked on the form.

MATERIAL REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO CONTRACTORS FOR USE ON

RAILWAY WORKS

When railway material is required to be sent to contractors for use on railway works
under construction by them, it should be booked to the railway official in charge of those
works, by whom the material will be handed over to the contractor concerned; in no
circumstances should such materials be booked direct to the contractor under Form Com. R-1
(rev).

USE OF RMC FOR SPECIAL TRAINS LIKE BALLAST TRAINS

The use of RMC Notes is also not permitted in the case of special trains including
ballast trains. The charges for such trains, which will be ordered to run on receipt of
instructions form the Divisional Officer, will be adjusted through monthly or fortnightly
statement to be prepared by Divisional Office and submitted to the Traffic Accounts Office,
vide para 1759-E.

ACCEPTANCE OF RAILWAY MATERIAL CONSIGNMENT NOTES

(a) Before a RMC Note is accepted as an authority for booking railway materials and stores,
it should be seen that -

1. It is tendered in the printed form and all the particulars required to be filled in it are
clearly and legibly entered, the number, actual weight and description, etc., of each of
the different kinds of materials being clearly specified:
2. The head of account chargeable (e.g. A. 2601, Cap. 6910, etc) has been distinctly
indicated in the column headed "Allocation".
3. All the foils are written by carbon process, in one operation;
4. It is signed by the official authorized to issue the same; and
5. It bears the stamp of the office of issue.

(b) Railway material consignment notes which are incomplete in any respect should not be
accepted by the booking station and should be returned to the consignor for completion,
stating reasons for non-acceptance.

MARKETING, LABELLING, WEIGHTMENT, ETC. OF RAILWAY MATERIALS

AND STORES

Rules for marketing, labelling, weightment etc. of railway materials and stores are the
same as for consignments tendered by the public.

INDENTING AND SUPPLY OF WAGONS FOR LOADING RAILWAY

MATERIALS AND STORES

In the case of consignments in full wagon loads, a written requisition, indicating the
number and description of wagons or other vehicles required together with a RMC Note, will
be sent by the official indenting the wagons to the Station Master or Goods Clerk concerned.
On receipt of the wagon, the official concerned should be promptly informed of the
availability of the wagon so that no delay takes place in loading the same. Non-receipt of
such intimation, however, will not absolve the consignor of his responsibility to load the
wagon within the prescribed free time.

EXAMINATION OF RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES TENDERED FOR

DESPATCH

All consignments of railway materials and stores tendered for despatch must be
carefully examined by the station staff, and it should be seen that suitable remarks regarding
defective packing or defective condition of the consignment are recorded by the consignor on
the relevant RMC Note.

ISSUE OF INVOICES FOR RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES

(a) After the above preliminary examination has been carried out, invoices should be
prepared on the basis of information contained in the relevant RMC Notes. The invoices for
railway material and stores are printed on a different colour of paper and in a different form
from that used for public traffic; these are in three or four foils according to the traffic
involved - local or through. These forms are machine numbered and should be treated as
money value books for indent receipt, custody, issue, etc. These invoices should be used
exclusively for consignments booked on railway material consignment notes.

(b) Full particulars of the materials booked giving the number, actual weight and description
of materials booked and the number of wagons used in the case of wagon loads should be
shown on all the foils of the invoice. Remarks regarding defective condition or defective
packing of the consignment should also be shown on all foils of the invoice. The route, the
chargeable total distance (as well as the chargeable distance over each railway in the case of
through traffic), the rate chargeable and freight charges should be shown by the booking
station on all invoices.

(c) Debits will be raised by the Traffic Accounts Office against the departments concerned
for the freight charges due. The detailed heads of accounts e.g. A. 2501, B.3601, E.3801, etc.
together with details of Department and Division against whom debit will have to be
preferred should, therefore, be clearly shown in the invoice to facilitate correct adjustment of
charges in the Traffic Accounts Office.

LOADING AND UNLOADING OF RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES

(a) Loading and unloading of railway materials and stores will be done by the consignors and
consignees respectively, in accordance with the rules laid down for public traffic in the
I.R.C.A. Tariffs.

(b) Exceptional circumstances may arise in which the loading/unloading required to be done
by the consignor/consignee is arranged by the station staff through the handling contractor. In
such cases, the Station Master should obtain a certificate from the consignor/consignee to the
effect that the loading/unloading was not done by his Department clearly indicating the
"Department", "Division" and the 'Head of account' to be debited. A separate handling bill
supported by the above certificate should be submitted to the Traffic Accounts Office for
arranging payment to the handling contractor and debiting the same to the Department and
Head of account shown in the certificate.

BOOKING OF RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES BY PASSENGER/PARCEL

TRAINS

(a) Railway materials and stores may be accepted for booking by passenger/parcel trains
subject to the weight not exceeding two quintals.

(b) Railway materials and stores booked by passenger/parcel trains should be treated as
ordinary public traffic and accounted for as such, the freight and other charges being
collected through credit notes at the time of booking or delivery, as the case may be.

RATES FOR RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES BY GOODS TRAINS

(a) Railway materials and stores for construction, revenue or stock purposes, excluding those
mentioned in (c) below are charged at the following rates, at owner's risk, both in local and
through bookings, when carried by goods trains. The Railway Risk rates are 20 per cent
higher than the owner's risk rates :

(i) For traffic in wagon loads (i.e. in minimum : Per 4 -wheeled wagon per
loads of 90 quintals per consignment) kilometre

All gauges : Rs. 1.37

Note : (i) The basis of charges will be the number of wagons used at the starting station. (ii)
6-wheeled and bogie wagons will be charged as for 1 ½ and two 4-wheeled wagons
respectively.

(b) The above rates also apply to materials for railway surveys and store belonging to the
railway Catering Department.

(c) Coal, coal shale, coke, lignite, patent fuel, dangerous goods, specie and bullion are
charged at a different tariff.

CHARGES FOR PRIVATE AND RAILWAY SIDINGS

A standard siding charge of Rs.18/- per 4-wheeled wagon is levied on railway

materials and stores, booked to or from private and railway sidings at rates applicable to
railway materials and stores.

DELIVERY OF RAILWAY MATERIALS AND STORES

Separate goods delivery books should be maintained for railway materials and stores.
The freight charges, which will be entered in the delivery books as in the case of public
traffic, will not be collected from the consignee letters 'R.M.C.' being written in the 'amount'
column in the goods cash book against the relevant progressive number of delivery. The
railway receipt will be collected and the signature of the consignee or his authorized agent
obtained in the goods delivery book as in the case of public traffic.

WHARFAGE/DEMURRAGE CHARGES

Wharfage/ demurrage charges will be recovered as in the case of public traffic; the
charges accrued being paid by the Departments concerned by Credit Notes. These amounts
will be accounted for by the stations in the wharfage/demurrage returns and balance sheets,
but shown separately from that accrued on public traffic.

Note: The figures and data pertaining to all aforesaid details are subject to change under
notifications/circulars issued from the Railway Board from time to time. Therefore, readers
are advised to go through the latest information available issued from the Board or available
in the Railways official website, www.indianrailways.gov.in and www.indianrail.gov.in. For
ready reference, readers may also see ‘Trains at a Glance, for certain subject topics.

**********
 Annexure – I

A sample copy of Manual Railway Receipt (RR)

 Annexure – II

A sample copy of Electronic Railway Receipt (RR) issued

 प्र न कोश Question Bank

िवषय Subject: वािण य Commercial

Course: Group A Foundation Program

Type of Question: ि वज़ या व तुिन ठ Quiz or Objective (1 or 2 marks each)

Q1. िन निलिखत का पूरा नाम िलख. Write the full forms of the following:

डीटीसी (जी) DTC (G), टीडीआर TDR, एनटीईएस NTES, टीएमएस TMS, आइवीआरएस IVRS,
पीसीटी PCT, पीआरएस PRS, सीसीओ CCO, एमएसटी MST, टीटीई TTE, आरसीटी RCT,
आरएमसी RMC, जेटीबीएस JTBS, जीटीबीएस GTBS, आरटीएसए RTSA, पीएनआर PNR,
एनआरयस
ू ीसी NRUCC, ज़ेडआरयस
ू ीसी ZRUCC, डीआरयूसीसी DRUCC, एसआरयस
ू ीसी
SRUCC, टीएजी TAG, एलपीओ LPO, ईएफटी EFT, बीपीटी BPT, ईडीआर EDR, ईडी (सी व
आईएस) ED (C&IS), आईआरसीए IRCA, सीटीटीआई CTTI, सीआरएस CRS, यूटीएस UTS,
आईआरसीटीसी IRCTC, एवीएम AVM, सीसीटीवी CCTV, एफओआईएस FOIS, ड यूआरएफ
WRF, आरआर RR, एनजी NG, पीआरओ PRO, एचएसटी HST, वायएसटी YST, सीजेटी CJT

Q2. State True (T) or False (F) against the following statements:

(a) The highest official of Commercial department is Additional Member (Commercial).

(b) Rates branch deals with distribution of Time Tables to all stations.

(c) CPRO is necessarily a Commercial officer.

(d) Permissible loading capacity of a compartment of a conventional air brake M/E coach
SLR is 8 tones.

(e) Military Tariff is related with concessions given to Military personnel to carry their
household items through Railways.

(f) Remittance of station earning is primarily the job of Accounts department.

(g) Under PRS system, a station Master or an ASM cannot book tickets to passengers.

(h) Red Tariff is published specially by the Railway Board.

 (i) Supplementary charge is collected from passengers for travel by certain super fast
Mail/Exp trains.

(j) The term Fare includes basic fare, supplementary charge and reservation fee.

(k) No refund of fare in respect of lost or misplaced ticket is granted.

(l) Under certain circumstances, TDR can be issued to a passenger without surrendering the
ticket.

(m) Foreign Railway RRs are issued for consignments being sent to stations beyond divisional
territories.

(n) Red Tariff is given the highest priority as Priority A traffic.

(o) For booking motor cycle in parcel, packing of the same is done by the consignee
concerned.

(p) With installation of in-motion weigh bridges, weight is no more the factor for freight
calculation.

(q) At stations, unloading of goods consignment is supervised by the Station Master.

(r) Under UTS, passenger booking offices are open round the clock.

(s) Waitlisted passengers can board the train under approval of the Station Manager on duty.

(t) The authority for framing Commercial Rules is vested in the IRCA.

(u) The Railway Act was passed in the year 1889.

(v) Refund is usually not made after the departure of the train running on time.

(w) Conventional PRS ticket is issued to the passenger under I-Ticketing.

(x) RTSA personnel can also book E-Tickets under approval of CCM.

(y) Tatkal tickets are also issued against concession.

(z) Dogs can be carried in AC first compartments.

Type of Question: Difference between (3 to 5 marks each)

Q1. Write difference between:

(i) Rebooking and Diversion

(ii) Open and Assessment Delivery

(iii)Demurrage and Wharfage

(iv) Railway Risk and Owners Risk

 (v) Undercharges and Overcharges

(vi) Labeling and Marking

(vii) EFT and BPT

(viii) Consignor and Consignee

(ix) Paid and To Pay

(x) E-Ticketing and I-Ticketing

(xi) Rake Load and Wagon Load

(xii) Rating and Routing

(xiii) Wait-listed and RAC Passengers

(xiv) Lean season and Busy season

(xv) Fare and Freight

(xvi) Clear RR and Qualified RR

(xvii) RMC and Stores

(xviii) TDR and EDR

(xix) Indrail Pass and CJT

(xx) Ex-gratia Payment and Interim Payment

(xxi) Time-barred and Suite-barred Claim cases

(xxii) Claim Prevention and Claim Settlement

(xxiii) Claims and Refund

(xxiv) Consignee and Endorsee

(xxv) PMS and TMS

Type of Question: Short Notes or Definition (2 to 4 marks each)

Q1. Write short notes on the following:

(i) E-Payment

(ii) RMC

(iii)N.R. Cell
(iv) Non-issued Ticket

(v) Break Journey

(vi) Platform Ticket

(vii) Supplementary Charge

(viii) Clerkage charge

(ix) Cloak Room

(x) Lost Property Office

(xi) Minimum distance for charge

(xii) Forwarding Note

(xiii) Railway Receipt

(xiv) D.D. Message

(xv) Said to contain RR

(xvi) I Bond Delivery

(xvii) Wagon Registration Fee

(xviii) Free time

(xix) Working hours

(xx) Business hours

(xxi) Outstanding at station

(xxii) Claims prevention

(xxiii) In-motion Weighbridge

(xxiv) Unconnected consignment

(xxv) Refund

(xxvi) E-Ticketing

(xxvii) I-Ticketing

(xxviii)FOIS

(xxix) TMS

(xxx) E-Payment

(xxxi) Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT)

(xxxii) IRCTC
(xxxiii)Railway Rates Tribunal (RRT)

(xxxiv) Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA)

(xxxv) Monthly Season Ticket (MST)

(xxxvi) Railway Sidings

(xxxvii) Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)

(xxxviii) Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR)

(xxxix) Money Value Book

(xl) Red Tariff

(xli) Military Tariff

(xlii) Dangerous and Explosive consignments

(xliii) Soldiers Ticket

(xliv) Military Warrants

(xlv) Indrail Pass

(xlvi) Izzat scheme

(xlvii) Distance Table

(xlviii) RTSA

(xlix) Tatkal scheme

(l) Passenger Amenities

(li) Leasing of SLR

(lii)Declaration of Personal cash by Commercial staff

(liii) Scales of Parcel Booking

(liv) Ex-gratia Payment

(lv) Interim Relief

(lvi) Emergency Quota

(lvii) Two point Rake

(lviii) Refund of E-Tickets

(lix) Booking through Mobile Phone

Type of Question: Subjective or Descriptive (5 to 6 marks each)

1. ई-िटकेिटंग के क्या फायदे ह? भारतीय रे ल म इसका क्या भिव य है ? What are advantages of
E-Ticketing? What is the future of it on the Indian Railways?

2. कोिचंग िरफंड होने के कारण को िलख. करने हेतु रे लवे क्या कर सकती इसे रोकने तथा कम .है? Write the
reasons of Coaching refunds. How can Railways prevent and minimize these?

3. पासर्ल बुिकंग की िविध को िलख. इसम रे लकमीर् वारा ली जाने वाली एहितयात के िवषय म िलख.
Write the procedure of booking a parcel consignment? What precautions should a
railwayman take in doing his part of job?

4. भारतीय रे लवे म माल बुिकंग की प्रिक्रया को िलख. इसम ली जाने वाली सावधािनय के िवषय म भी िलख.
Write the procedure of booking of Goods Traffic in Railways. Also write precautions to be
taken in this regard.

5. वािण य िवभाग के मुख्य कायर् क्या ह? भारतीय रे ल म इनकी दरू गामी भिू मका के िवषय म िलख.
Write the main functions of Commercial department. What is its future role in Indian
Railways?

6. आईआरसीए प्रकाशन सिहत वािण य िवभाग के िविभ न ‘बुक्स ऑफ िरफेरस’ के बारे म िलखते हुए
इनकी मह ता पर प्रकाश डािलए. Write the various book of reference, including IRCA
Publications, of Commercial department and mention their relevance?

7. दावा िन तारण की िविध को िलख. रे ल यज़

ू र के दाव को कैसे रोका अथवा कम िकया जा सकता है ?
What is the procedure of claims settlement? How to prevent or minimize claims
preferred by rail users?

8. दावा िन तारण रे ल का एक मह वपूणर् क्षेत्र है . इस िदशा म क्या कदम उठाए जा सकते ह?

Claims prevention is an important area in Railways. What steps can be taken towards
it?

9. यटू ीएस क्या है ? भारतीय रे ल म यटू ीएस के िवशेष फायद को िलख, तथ◌ाइनम सुधार हे तु सुझाव द. What is
UTS? Write specific advantages of UTS in the Indian Railways, and suggest improvements
on it.

10. फॉरवािडर्ंग नोट क्या है ? इसे कैसे स पािदत िकया जाता है , तथा एक रे लकमीर् को इसम क्या सावधािनयां
तथा एहितयात बरतने चािहये ? What is Forwarding Note? How is it executed, and what care and
precautions a Railwayman should take while doing so?

11. िकसी भी परे षण (कनसाइ मट ) का भाड़ा िनधार्रण िकन कारक पर िनभर्र करता है? साथ ही, ऑनसर्
िर क रे ट तथा रे लवे िर क रे ट के बारे म भी िलख◌े◌What
ं. are the factors on which freight
chargeable for a consignment depends? Also, write about Owner’s Risk rate (OR rate) and
Railway Risk rate (RR rate).

12. प्रतीक्षरत याित्रय के िलये भारतीय रे लवे को क्या कदम उठाने चािहए ? What is RAC? What steps
the Indian Railways should take to handle the waitlisted passengers?
13. रे लगाड़ी म वातानुकूिलत यात्रा हे तु िकतनी ेिणयां होती ह ? आज के िदन म इनम सुधार हेतु क्या करने
चािहए ? What are the different classes of AC accommodation in trains? How to improve these
services in today’s time for quality service delivery?

14. रे ल याित्रय के िलए पिरचर की क्या सुिवधाएं ह ? What are the facilities of attendants provided for
Railway Passengers?

15. िबना िटिकट यात्रा के क्या कारण ह ? रे लवे को इसे रोकने हे तु क्या कदम उठाने चािहये ? What are the
reasons for ticketless travelling? What should Railways do to check it?

16. भारतीय रे ल म त काल िटकट बुिकं ग कीम के िवषय म िलख. इसे और समद्ध
ृ करने हे तु क्या कदम उठने
चािहए. Write about the ‘Tatkal’ scheme of ticket booking on the Indian Railways.
What steps should Railways take to improve it?

17. भारतीय रे ल म यात्री आरक्षण सेवा की िविश टताओं को िलख. इसम सुधार के क्षेत्र को बताते हुए
स भािवत कुकृ य के िनवारण हे तु प्रयास के िवषय म िलख. Indicate the strengths of PRS on
the Indian Railways. What are the areas of improvements, and what efforts to be made
to avoid malpractices?

18. रे ल म पासर्ल और लगेज बुिकं ग के िविभ न केल क्या क्या ह? िवपणन के ि टकोण से इनकी
क्या मह ता है ? What are the various scales for luggage and parcel booking in
Railways? Write their importance from marketing point of view.

19. ग्राहक की िशकायत कैसे उ प न होती ह? रे ल को इससे िनबटने अथवा रोकने म क्या उपाय करने
चािहए? How complaints and grievances of customers generate? What measures should
be taken by Railways to handle and also to prevent them?

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