Train Boarding Rules Changed- Passengers Must Reach on Time or Pay the Price

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Railway Rules: Big news for railway passengers. If you believe that the TTE will hold up the train for you after it leaves your boarding station until the next stop, it’s time to rethink that mindset. Indian Railways is set to introduce a significant change in train boarding procedures that will impact passengers with confirmed, RAC, and waitlisted tickets. Once this new system is in place, even a minor delay could result in your seat being reassigned to someone else.

No more waiting by the TTE

Previously, the rule was that if a passenger failed to board the train at their assigned station, the TTE would wait until the next station. If the passenger still wasn’t found there, their seat would be given to someone on the waiting list or with an RAC ticket. However, this process is about to change. With the new system, as soon as the TTE notices during their checks that a passenger hasn’t boarded at their designated station, they will instantly mark that seat as ‘not turned up’ on their handheld device (EFT).

Immediate allocation of vacant seats

Once the TTE enters ‘Not Turned Up,’ the system will identify the seat as vacant and promptly assign it to another passenger on the train who has a waiting list or RAC ticket. Importantly, the seat allocation details will be sent straight to the passenger’s mobile phone, removing the need for passengers to keep checking in with the TTE for updates.

Software updates are on the way

The Railway Ministry is working on the necessary updates to the railway software to bring about this change. The Railway Board has directed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to implement these modifications. Once the system is updated, this new process can be rolled out on trains nationwide.

Good news for RAC and waitlisted travelers!

Passengers with RAC and waitlisted tickets are set to gain the most from this innovative technology. Whenever a seat opens up, it can be used right away. Rakesh Tripathi, the former Chief Operations Manager of North Eastern Railway, mentioned that this is a significant step forward for improved seat management and optimal usage.

3 to 5 percent of passengers don’t show up

Statistics reveal that on nearly every train, about 3 to 5 percent of passengers are marked as ‘no-shows’ compared to the total seat count. This indicates they either cancel their trip or attempt to board from a different station. The Railways has emphasized that passengers must board only from the station they initially chose. Keep in mind that the option to change boarding stations is only available 24 hours prior to chart preparation. After that, no changes can be made, and boarding from another station won’t be allowed.

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