Luggage Allowance and Restrictions on Tibet Trains

 

Because of the high altitude and relatively low temperature in Tibet, people who travel there usually need to bring warm winter clothes. Due to the lengthy time of international flights or trips to other places beside Tibet, it is normal to travel with heavy luggage. For this reason, it is very necessary for travelers who want to travel to Tibet by train to understand the relevant luggage checking rules.

The following are some tips for going on a Tibet train tour that you need to pay attention to. They will inform you on which luggage items are allowed, prohibited, limited, and the restrictions on the luggage sizes and weights, etc.

Luggage Regulations on Tibet Train

1. Regulations on the Weight of Free Luggage:

20 kilograms per passenger, 10 kilograms for children (including children of free admission) and 35 kilograms for diplomats.

2. Regulations on the Volume of Free Luggage:

• The total sum of the length, width and height of each piece of luggage cannot exceed 160cm.
• The length of rod-shaped items cannot exceed 200cm (130cm for bullet train or high-speed train).

3. Regulations on Disabled Cart

Carts for the disabled are free of charge and not included in the 20 kg range of free luggage.

4. Luggage Prohibited by Train

• Flammable, explosive, spontaneous combustion, and highly toxic hazardous substances (such as detonators, firecrackers, explosives, gasoline, calcium carbide, kerosene and liquefied gases, etc.).
• Any items which impede public health.
• The transport of anything prohibited or restricted by the state.
• Animals and articles that will cause damage or pollution to vehicles (such as chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, pigs, monkeys, cats, snakes, and so on).
• If passengers are found to be carrying dangerous goods, then the goods must be handed over to the train staff. The goods will be disposed of at the next parking station.

5. Fines Imposed for Overweight Baggage

Passengers are forbidden to board the station if they carry overweight luggage. Please be sure to know the above rules about traveling by train before you get on board.

The excess weight of baggage items exceeding the free weight shall be reimbursed for the fourth type of package freight on the train or off the train. For overweight baggage, oversized articles or animals that cannot be separated, the fourth type of package freight charges will be reimbursed, according to the total weight of the package and the distance traveled. If the value of overweight or oversized luggage is lower than the freight value, then the freight will be charged at 50% of the price of the luggage.

6. Items That Cannot Be Transported by Parcel

Dead bodies, bones, ashes, coffins and articles prone to contamination and damage to vehicles; snakes, beasts and animals more than 20 kilograms each (excluding police dogs and animals designated for transport by official transportation orders);

According to the relevant regulations of the railway department, the common contraband items are:

• Fireworks and firecrackers, gunpowder, compressed oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, gasoline, alcohol, turpentine, kerosene, strong acid, alkali, pesticide, poison, guns, control tools, detonators, fuses, strong glue, adhesives, sulfur, mercury, naphthalene.
• Fruit knives with a self-fixing function also belong to the restricted knives category.
• Restrictions on carrying a gas lighter (no more than 5), safety matches (no more than 20 small boxes); nail polish, light removal, hair dye must not exceed 20ml; alcohol, cold wave lotion that does not exceed 100ml; mousse, hair gel, health insecticide, air freshener not exceeding 600ml.

Common "easily neglected contraband" can be roughly divided into the following categories:

• Animals, except for guide dogs.  
• Operating tools like electric drills, wire-binding hooks. When this happens, the security inspector will register the tools in detail and temporarily confiscate them for 7 days. Passengers can contact other people to collect these items. If no one comes to claim them after 7 days, these items will be permanently confiscated.
• Cigarettes and liquor beyond the amount allowed. Glass-bottled beer and bulk amounts of liquor (no container is allowed) are forbidden to carry. No more than 2 bottles of packed liquor over 52° or 6 bottles of packed wine less than 52°.
• Each person can carry up to two cartons of cigarettes. According to relevant regulations, goods with a strong irritating odor or foul smell cannot be brought into the train. For example, durian, stinky tofu, seafood and other similar items are not allowed to be carried onto the train without proper packaging that would emit such a distinct odor in public.

Processing methods: According to relevant provisions, when the items mentioned above are found, they will be temporarily withheld and stored by the train station on his behalf.

Luggage Checking Process

Luggage Checking Process for Tibet Train

1.Check the goods at the inspection office of the railway station's shipping hall, and the inspector shall issue the consignment properly after they confirm that all the goods meet consignment regulations.

2. Fill out the shipping slip correctly by writing your name, the number of pieces, time of arrival, shipper, consignee and other detailed information of importance. Pack the goods in accordance with the packing standard.

3. Check the weight with your completed consignment slip. The weighing officer will fill in the number and the exact weight of the goods and put a stamp on it.

4. Take the consignment slip and pay for the freight. The consignment procedure is complete when you receive the invoice.

Notices for baggage consignment:

When handling the railway baggage check-in, passengers should also remember the following recommendations to ensure the safe and successful arrival of their baggage.

• Luggage consignment suitcases, bags and handbags must be locked;
• The baggage consignment of more than two packages cannot be bundled together.
• No other items should be attached to the baggage consignment;
• Bamboo baskets, net bags, straw ropes and straw bags cannot be used as packing materials.
• The passenger's name, detailed address and telephone number should be indicated on the baggage consignment.

Railway Platform

Where to Place Luggage on Tibet Train

1. Valuables items (such as wallet, passport, cameras, mobile phones) should be carried around all the time.

2. Small pieces of luggage (such as backpacks, satchels, briefcases, etc.) can be placed on your own sleeping bunk.

3. Large luggage can be put on the luggage rack or placed under the lower bed.

4. Always keep your valuables in sight, especially for lower bunks.

Luggage space in the hard sleeper compartments:  

The luggage can be placed on the luggage rack above the window by the aisle side or under the lower bunks. The luggage rack can hold big luggage that is 20.9 inches (53cm) wide, and the space under the lower bunk can hold luggage that is less than 12 inches (30cm) in height and 24 inches (60cm) in width. Valuable personal belongings should be carried around by your backpack.

Hard Sleeper Compartment

Luggage space in the soft sleeper compartments:

There is a large and wide luggage closet of about 16 inches (40cm) in height and 20 inches (50cm) in width above the door in each soft sleeper compartment. Small and medium luggage can be placed here. As for larger and heavier luggage, you can place them under the lower berth.

Soft Sleeper Compartment

Hope you find the above information useful, please feel free to contact us if you get more questions.