Check Your Pakistan Railways Luggage Allowance: 50 kg in AC Sleeper, 20 kg in Other Classes

Pakistan Railways lets each ticket holder carry 50 kg of luggage free in AC Sleeper and 20 kg in every other class, according to the FAQ on its official website. Anything above that, or anything on its banned list, has to be booked and paid for. Porters at main stations charge a set Rs 30 a trip, or Rs 40 in Lahore, Karachi and Multan.

We read the luggage rules on pakrail.gov.pk on 3 October 2026. They are short, but they decide whether your trunk rides with you or gets sent to the parcel office. Families going home for a wedding with a fridge, a cooler or a generator on the list should read the second table carefully, because those items get no free allowance at all.

Free luggage allowance by class

Pakistan Railways gives 50 kg of free luggage per ticket in AC Sleeper and 20 kg per ticket in AC Sitter, AC Lower, First Class Sleeper, Economy and Second Class. The allowance counts the total weight you carry in the compartment.

The allowance is per ticket, so a family of four in Economy can carry 80 kg between them. The FAQ says the allowance is given at the starting station. AC Business is not listed in the FAQ, so ask at the booking counter if you are travelling in that class.

Your class also decides the fare. You can check the price of each class on the Pakistan Railways fare table before you book.

Items Pakistan Railways will not take as luggage

The railway will not book explosives, inflammable or dangerous goods, leaking oil, ghee or paint, wet skins and hides, or very bulky items as luggage. Some heavy appliances are allowed but get no free allowance and must be paid for.

The FAQ lists these as not accepted as luggage:

• Explosives, and any dangerous or inflammable articles.
• Oil, grease, ghee or paint in packages that could break, leak or damage other luggage.
• Offensive articles such as wet skins and hides. Skins of wild animals are taken only if packed in air-tight boxes, at the owner's risk.
• Bulky articles that would be charged by size if sent as parcels.

The FAQ lists these as getting no free allowance, so you pay for every kilogram:

Steps to travel with heavy luggage on a train

Weigh your bags at home, compare the total with your class allowance, and book anything extra or anything on the no-allowance list at the station's luggage office before the train leaves. Keep the receipt safe.

1. Weigh everything at home. Add up the bags for each person travelling.
2. Compare with your allowance. 50 kg in AC Sleeper, 20 kg in other classes, per ticket.
3. Separate the no-allowance items. A cooler, fridge or generator is charged in full.
4. Reach the station early. Book extra luggage at the luggage or parcel office before departure.
5. Keep the luggage receipt. It is your proof of what you booked and paid.

The FAQ warns that dispatch of luggage by a particular train is not guaranteed. So if a booked item must arrive with you, ask the luggage office whether it will go on your train, and plan for it to arrive later if it does not. If you have not bought your seat yet, booking a train ticket online first gives you the class and train number the luggage office will ask for.

Charges for extra luggage, pets and cars

Luggage over the free limit is charged under Pakistan Railways' parcel and luggage rate table. The latest one on its website took effect on 19 September 2023, and it also covers dogs and motor cars sent by train.

The rate table sets charges by distance, with separate columns for passenger, mail and express, and non-stop trains. It says every charge is rounded up to the next Rs 5. We read the table, but its column headings are not clear enough in the published file to quote a single per-kilogram figure safely. Ask the luggage office for the exact charge for your weight and distance.

The same table has separate rows for dogs and hounds and for a motor car sent by rail. That confirms the railway carries both, but the booking is done through its parcel system, not on a passenger ticket. Ask at the parcel office of your starting station.

Porter charges and what to do if something goes wrong

Licensed porters at main stations are not railway staff, but their charge is fixed by the railway: Rs 30 per porter per trip for a load of up to 40 kg, and Rs 40 at Lahore, Karachi and Multan.

The rate covers carrying the load from the station entrance to the train, or from one part of the station to another, including loading it into the carriage. If a porter asks for more, complain to the Station Master on duty straight away and note the badge number the porter wears.

If your train is cancelled or ends its journey early because of an accident or a railway fault, the FAQ says the railway provides transport of luggage, along with a refund for the unused part and onward arrangements. The detail of Pakistan Railways refund rules decides how much fare you get back.

Common questions

How much luggage is free on Pakistan Railways?

50 kg per ticket in AC Sleeper and 20 kg per ticket in AC Sitter, AC Lower, First Class Sleeper, Economy and Second Class.

Can I carry a fridge or a cooler on the train?

Yes, but it gets no free allowance. Refrigerators, deep freezers and desert coolers are charged in full as luggage.

Can I take gas cylinders or petrol?

No. Explosives and dangerous or inflammable articles are not accepted as luggage.

How much does a railway porter charge?

Rs 30 per porter per trip for up to 40 kg, and Rs 40 at Lahore, Karachi and Multan, as fixed by Pakistan Railways.

Can I send a dog or a car by train?

Yes, through the parcel office. The railway's parcel and luggage rate table has separate rates for dogs and for motor cars.

Will my booked luggage travel on my train?

Not guaranteed. The FAQ says dispatch by a particular train is not guaranteed, so ask the luggage office.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked about 2 am PKT on 3 October 2026. We read the luggage allowance, banned items, no-allowance items, porter rates and accident provisions on the Pakistan Railways FAQ, and the list of rate tables on its fares and rates page, including the parcel and luggage rates effective 19 September 2023. The FAQ is not dated, so the porter rates may be older than they look; a porter may ask for more at busy times. We could not read a clear per-kilogram excess charge from the published rate table.