The Railways Act
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Railways.1989
List of Chapters & Sections
PRELIMINARY
RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS
RAIL LAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
COMMISSIONERS OF RAILWAY SAFETY
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF WORKS
LAND ACQUISITION FOR A SPECIAL RAILWAY PROJECT
OPENING OF RAILWAYS
FIXATION OF RATES
TRIBUNAL
CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS
CARRIAGE OF GOODS
SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS TO GOODS BOOKED TO NOTIFIED STATIONS
RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS AS CARRIERS
ACCIDENTS
LIABILITY OF RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION FOR DEATH AND INJURY TO PASSENGERS DUE TO ACCIDENTS
REGULATION OF HOURS OF WORK AND PERIOD OF REST
PENALTIES AND OFFENCES
MISCELLANEOUS
PRELIMINARY
RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS
RAIL LAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
4AEstablishment of Railway Land Development Authority4BComposition of Authority4CTerms and conditions of appointment of Vice-Chairman and other Members4DFunctions of Authority4EPowers of Authority to enter into agreements and execute contracts4FProcedure of transaction of business of Authority4GAppointment of officers and other employees of Authority4HSalaries, allowances, etc., to be defrayed out of Consolidated Fund of India4-IPower of Authority to make regulationsCOMMISSIONERS OF RAILWAY SAFETY
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF WORKS
11Power of railway administrations to execute all necessary works12Power to alter the position of pipe, electric supply line drain or sewer, etc13Protection for Government property14Temporary entry upon land to remove obstruction, to repair or to prevent accident15Payment of amount for damage or loss16Accommodation works17Power of owner, occupier, State Government or local authority to cause additional accommodation works to be made18Fences, gates and bars19Overbridges and underbridges20Power of Central Government to give directions for safetyLAND ACQUISITION FOR A SPECIAL RAILWAY PROJECT
20APower to acquire land, etc20BPower to enter for survey, etc20CEvaluation of damages during survey, measurement, etc20DHearing of objections, etc20EDeclaration of acquisition20FDetermination of amount payable as compensation20GCriterion for determination of market-value of land20HDeposit and payment of amount20-IPower to take possession20JRight to enter into land where land has vested in Central Government20KCompetent authority to have certain powers of civil court20LUtilisation of land for the purpose it is acquired20MSharing with landowners the difference in price of a land when transferred for a higher consideration20NLand Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 not to apply20-OApplication of the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 to persons affected due to land acquisition20PPower to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterOPENING OF RAILWAYS
21Sanction of the Central Government to the opening of railway22Formalities to be complied with before giving sanction to the opening of a railway23Sections 21 and 22 to apply to the opening of certain works24Temporary suspension of traffic25Power to close railway opened for the public carriage of passengers26Re-opening of closed railway27Use of rolling stock28Delegation of powers29Power to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterFIXATION OF RATES
TRIBUNAL
33Tribunal34[Omitted.]35[Omitted.]36Complaints against a railway administratio37Matters not within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal38Powers of the Tribunal39Reference to the Tribunal40Assistance by the Central Government41Burden of proof, etc42Decision, etc., of the Tribunal43Bar of jurisdiction of courts44Reliefs which the Tribunal may grant45Revision of decisions given by the Tribunal46Execution of decisions or orders of the Tribunal47Report to the Central Government48Power of the Tribunal to make regulationsCARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS
49Exhibition of certain timings and tables of fares at stations50Supply of tickets on payment of fare51Provision for case in which ticket is issued for class or train not having accommodation for additional passengers52Cancellation of ticket and refund53Prohibition against transfer of certain tickets54Exhibition and surrender of passes and tickets55Prohibition against travelling without pass or ticket56Power to refuse to carry persons suffering from infectious or contagious diseases57Maximum number of passengers for each compartment58Earmarking of compartment, etc., for ladies59Communications between passengers and railway servant in charge of train60Power to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterCARRIAGE OF GOODS
61Maintenance of rate-books, etc., for carriage of goods62Conditions for receiving, etc., of goods63Provisions of risk rates64Forwarding note65Railway receipt66Power to require statement relating to the description of goods67Carriage of dangerous or offensive goods68Carriage of animals suffering from infectious or contagious diseases69Deviation of route70Prohibition of undue preference71Power to give direction in regard to carriage of certain goods72Maximum carrying capacity for wagons and trucks73Punitive charge for overloading a wagon74Passing of property in the goods covered by railway receipt75Section 74 not to affect right of stoppage in transit or claims for freight76Surrender of railway receipt77Power of railway administration to deliver goods or sale proceeds thereof in certain cases78Power to measure, weigh, etc79Weighment of consignment on request of the consignee or endorsee80Liability of railway administration for wrong delivery81Open delivery of consigrments82Partial delivery of consignments83Lien for freight or any other sum due84Unclaimed consignment85Disposal of perishable consignments in certain circumstances86Sales under sections 83 to 85 not to affect the right to suit87Power to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterSPECIAL PROVISIONS AS TO GOODS BOOKED TO NOTIFIED STATIONS
RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAILWAY ADMINISTRATIONS AS CARRIERS
93General responsibility of a railway administration as carrier of goods94Goods to be loaded or delivered at a siding not belonging to a railway administration95Delay or detention in transit96Traffic passing over railways in India and railways in foreign countries97Goods carried at owner’s risk rate98Goods in defective condition or defectively packed99Responsibility of a railway administration after termination of transit100Responsibility as carrier of luggage101Responsibility as a carrier of animals102Exoneration from liability in certain cases103Extent of monetary liability in respect of any consignment104Extent of liability in respect of goods carried in open wagon105Right of railway administration to check contents of certain consignment or luggage106Notice of claim for compensation and refund of overcharge107Applications for compensation for loss, etc., of goods108Person entitled to claim compensation109Railway administration against which application for compensation for personal injury is to be filed110Burden of proof111Extent of liability of railway administration in respect of accidents at sea112Power to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterACCIDENTS
113Notice of railway accident114Inquiry by Commissioner115Inquiry by railway administration116Powers of Commissioner in relation to inquiries117Statement made before Commissioner118Procedure, etc119No inquiry, investigation, etc., to be made if the Commission of Inquiry is appointed120Inquiry into accident not covered by section 113121Returns122Power to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterLIABILITY OF RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION FOR DEATH AND INJURY TO PASSENGERS DUE TO ACCIDENTS
123Definitions124Extent of liability124ACompensation on account of untoward incidents125Application for compensation126Interim relief by railway administration127Determination of compensation in respect of any injury or loss of goods128Saving as to certain rights129Power to make rules in respect of matters in this ChapterREGULATION OF HOURS OF WORK AND PERIOD OF REST
PENALTIES AND OFFENCES
137Fraudulently travelling or attempting to travel without proper pass or ticket138Levy of excess charge and fare for travelling without proper pass or ticket or beyond authorised distance139Power to remove persons140Security for good behaviour in certain cases141Needlessly interfering with means of communication in a train142Penalty for transfer of tickets143Penalty for unauthorised carrying on of business of procuring and supplying of railway tickets144Prohibition on hawking, etc., and begging145Drunkenness or nuisance146Obstructing railway servant in his duties147Trespass and refusal to desist from trespass148Penalty for making a false statement in an application for compensation149Making a false claim for compensation150Maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train151Damage to or destruction of certain railway properties152Maliciously hurting or attempting to hurt persons travelling by railway153Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by wilful act or omission154Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by rash or negligent act or omission155Entering into a compartment reserved or resisting entry into a compartment not reserved156Travelling on roof, step or engine of a train157Altering or defacing pass or ticket158Penalty for contravention of any of the provisions of Chapter XIV159Disobedience of drivers or conductors of vehicles to directions of railway servant, etc160Opening or breaking a level crossing gate161Negligently crossing unmanned level crossing162Entering carriage or other place reserved for females163Giving false account of goods164Unlawfully bringing dangerous goods on a railway165Unlawfully bringing offensive goods on a railway166Defacing public notices167Smoking168Provision with respect to commission of offence by the children of acts endangering safety of person travelling on railway169Levy of penalty on non-Government railway170Recovery of penalty171Section 169 or 170 not to preclude Central Government from taking any other action172Penalty for intoxication173Abandoning train, etc., without authority174Obstructing running of train, etc175Endangering the safety of persons176Obstructing level crossing177False returns178Making a false report by a railway servant179Arrest for offences under certain sections180Arrest of persons likely to abscond, etc180AInquiry by officer authorised to ascertain commission of offence180BPowers of officer authorised to inquire180CDisposal of persons arrested180DInquiry how to be made against arrested person180ESearch, seizure and arrest how to be made180FCognizance by Court on a complaint made by officer authorised180GPunishment for certain offences in relation to inquiry181Magistrate having jurisdiction under the Act182Place of trialMISCELLANEOUS
183Power to provide other transport services184Taxation on railways by local authorities185Taxation on railways for advertisement186Protection of action taken in good faith187Restriction on execution against railway property188Railway servants to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter IX and section 409 of the Indian Penal Code189Railway servants not to engage in trade190Procedure for delivery to railway administration of property detained by a railway servant191Proof of entries in records and documents192Service of notice, etc., on railway administration193Service of notice, etc., by railway administration194Presumption where notice is served by post195Representation of railway administration196Power to exempt railway from Act197Matters supplemental to the definitions of "railway" and "railway servant"198General power to make rules199Rules to be laid before Parliament200Repeal and saving