Railway Boarding Rule Changed: Indian Railways is rapidly working towards making train travel smarter and more digital. As part of this effort, significant changes to boarding rules are being prepared. Under the new system, passengers will be required to board the train at their designated station. If a passenger fails to board on time, their seat may be immediately allocated to another passenger in need.
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According to reports, the railways are making major changes to their software to implement this system, enabling real-time information on seat availability.
TTEs will no longer wait until the next station
Under the old system, if a passenger was not found at their boarding station, the TTE would wait until the next station. Only then would the seat be allocated to a waiting list or RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) passenger.
In the new system, the TTE will mark “Not Turned Up” on their handheld device during checking. As soon as this is done, the system will consider the seat vacant and immediately allocate it to another passenger.
Seat allocation information directly on your mobile
After the implementation of the new technology, seat allocation information will be sent directly to passengers’ mobile phones. This will eliminate the need for passengers to repeatedly ask the TTE and will make the entire process more transparent.
Major software update for the railways
The Railway Board has issued necessary instructions to the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to implement this change. After the software update, this system can be implemented across the country.
Benefits for waiting list and RAC passengers
With the implementation of the new system, waiting list and RAC ticket holders will have a higher chance of getting a seat immediately. This will ensure better utilization of vacant seats on trains and improve the overall travel experience.
Many passengers do not travel on every train
According to railway data, approximately three to five percent of passengers do not travel on every train, even though they have tickets. This situation arises due to ticket cancellations or passengers boarding from a different station. Therefore, passengers are advised to select the correct boarding station.
Rules for Changing Boarding Stations Are Also Important
Passengers should note that the facility to change their boarding station is only available until approximately 24 hours before the flight. Changes are not possible after this time.
What Will Change for Passengers?
This change is expected to make train travel more digital, faster, and transparent. The railway’s objective is to maximize seat utilization and provide better facilities to passengers.









