Indian Railways: Keeping in mind the convenience of its crores of passengers, Indian Railways has made a big and important change in the rules of train charting. Now you will know the status of your seat immediately before your train leaves. Railways has released a new timetable, in which it is clearly stated when the first reservation charts of trains will be prepared. This is a significant relief for passengers, especially those who prefer to plan their journey.

What was the rule earlier, and what is the new change now

Earlier, the Railway Board had issued a letter on 15 April 2025, stating that the charts of trains running till 9 am should be prepared by 9 pm the previous night. Now, after reviewing this rule, it has been made even clearer and detailed.

New rules for train charting

Railways has created two main categories for preparing charts based on the departure time of trains.

Trains departing between 5 am and 2 pm (05:00–14:00):

The first reservation chart of these trains will be prepared by 9 pm (21:00) the previous night. This is a big relief for those passengers who have to catch the train early in the morning. They will know their seat status at night itself, which will make their travel preparation easier.

Trains departing between 2 pm and 12 midnight (14:00–23:59) and 12 midnight and 5 am (00:00–05:00):

The first chart of these trains will be prepared about 8 hours before the departure of the train. This change will also benefit those passengers who book tickets till the last minute, as they will get to know the status of the seat much earlier.

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Second Reservation Chart

There is no change in the rules of the second chart. It will be prepared a few hours before the departure of the train, as before, so that last-minute bookings and cancellations can be updated. This is important for those passengers who are on the waiting list or waiting for Tatkal booking.

The same rules will also apply to remote locations

These new instructions are not only for big stations. The same charting time will apply to small and remote stations as well. The Railway Board has asked all the zonal railways and concerned officials to ensure strict compliance with these instructions. All the concerned departments will also be informed to update their systems according to this new process.

What will the passengers benefit from this change

This new rule will give many big benefits to railway passengers, which will make their journey even more convenient. Passengers will know in time whether their seat is confirmed or not. This will eliminate confusion. Passengers travelling on morning trains will get the chart at night itself, thus saving them from rushing the next morning and making travel preparations easier.

Those who book tickets till the last minute will also get clear seat information, which will make their planning easier. Since the status of vacant seats in the train will be clear in advance, seat upgrades and tatkal bookings will be done in a better way. Passengers will now have less stress about their seat status, which will make their travel experience better and more comfortable.