Railway passengers have hit out over apparent luggage limits on trains.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is displaying signs on platforms warning that bags exceeding a certain size will be refused.
The signs say: “Please note, your luggage will be refused if it exceeds the maximum dimensions allowed.” The dimensions are 30cm X 70cm X 90cm.
The sign adds: “We allow a maximum of three items of luggage per person, including hand luggage, but if you can travel with less, please do.”
Christopher Howse, author of The Train in Spain, shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, a photograph of the sign, reports The Times.
He said: “Trains are pretending to be planes, but more expensive.
“Now it’s one piece of hand luggage and two bags on LNER.”
Online there is further clarification about the rules.
The LNER website says: “Please note we only allow three items per person.
“A maximum of one large suitcase, a carry-on bag and small handbag can be brought onboard.”
It added that “your luggage might be refused on our trains” for a number of reasons – including if it could cause injury, inconvenience, nuisance, if it causes obstruction or there’s simply not enough room.
Customers must travel on the same train as their luggage.
Luggage also must not cause delay to trains in its “loading or unloading” and it could be refused if it’s not carried or packaged in a suitable manner.
You must also be able to manage your own luggage unless you have booked its service to help disabled passengers.
A spokesman for LNER told Express.co.uk: “This is nothing new.
“The National Conditions of Carriage – used by all train operators – set out a limit of three bags per person.
“During particularly busy periods we use posters to remind customers of our policy.
“Unlike many of the airlines who operate on our London-Scotland route, LNER does not charge passengers to bring bags on to the train and does not impose weight limits.
“We simply ask that customers are able to manage their own luggage without additional help, unless of course they are an older or disabled customer and have booked help through passenger assistance.”
A number of people replied to the tweet.
One said: “Funny how they pretend to be planes until it comes to standing in the aisles.”
Another agreed the rules weren’t new.
They said: “In the national rules of carriage, 2012, 3 pieces of luggage per customer is all the railway is required to carry.
“In the past excess baggage would go in the guards van.
“Unacceptable amounts of luggage is effecting [sic] people with mobility issues and taking up seats from others.”