SCR introduces advance booking for parcel service

Railways have introduced advance booking facility of parcel space in luggage rooms SLRs (Seating-cum-Luggage Rake) available on passenger carrying trains and parcel vans attached to the regular trains and also in time tabled parcel trains.

According to South Central Railway (SCR), the advance booking of space in SLRs and parcel vans would be permitted 120 days in advance, subject to payment of 10 per cent of the total freight by the customer at the time of booking.

The balance payment of the freight has to be paid at least 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the train for which the advance booking has been made. If the customer fails to pay the balance amount as stipulated at least 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, the booking will be cancelled and advance freight will be forfeited.

“There have been repeated requests from the parcel customers for the introduction of advance booking facility of parcel space so as to plan their logistics in a better way



which will also generate additional traffic to railways,” said an official.

In case the customer is willing to cancel the booking, such cancellation needs to be done at least 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the train for which advance booking has been made. In such cases, 50 per cent of the advanced freight will be refunded. However, there shall be no refund if the cancellation is done after the deadline of 72 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.

In case of inability of railway administration to provide parcel space in the train on account of cancellation of train or any other reason, full advance freight would be refunded to the customer.

Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, SCR said that this facility will help the traders, cargo aggregators and farmers, especially those who are handling small quantities for transporting their consignments in economical and fastest mode as per the planned schedule.