Hyderabad, July 23 -- Railway passengers carrying baggage beyond the prescribed free allowance will be able to book excess luggage online while reserving their tickets from July 31, doing away with the need to visit parcel offices separately for luggage van bookings, railway officials said.

The facility follows a Railway Board decision permitting passengers to book personal luggage, within prescribed maximum limits, for carriage in reserved compartments, with the option being integrated into the online ticket reservation system.

Officials said the free and maximum luggage allowances for AC 3-tier, AC chair car and second-class compartments would remain unchanged, and that booking of excess luggage would not be permitted in classes where...