There’s great news for millions of train passengers across the country. Now, passengers will know 10 hours before the train’s departure time whether their seat is confirmed or not. If a passenger’s seat is not confirmed and remains on the waiting list, they will be informed 10 hours before the start of their journey, allowing them to consider other options. The railways have implemented a new charting system for the convenience of passengers. The reservation chart for trains will now be prepared 10 hours before the scheduled departure time so that passengers can know their reservation status well in advance.
Different rules for trains departing at different times
According to the Railway Board, the chart for trains departing between 5:01 AM and 2:00 PM will be prepared by 8:00 PM the previous day. However, the chart for trains departing between 2:01 PM and 11:59 PM, and between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM, will be prepared 10 hours in advance. Emergency quota allocations will be completed at least 8 hours before departure. It’s worth noting that in July of this year, the railways had already changed the timing for preparing train reservation charts, preparing them 8 hours before departure and informing passengers via text message whether their seats were confirmed or not.
Previously, passengers only received reservation status information 4 hours in advance
Before July 2025, passengers only learned their reservation status – whether their seat was confirmed or not – just 4 hours before the train’s departure. This left passengers whose tickets were not confirmed with very little time to make alternative travel arrangements. However, now passengers will know their reservation status 10 hours before the train departs, giving them ample time to plan for alternative travel options if their ticket is not confirmed.