Indian Railways to Finalize Reservation Charts 24 Hours Before Departure

Big changes could soon be coming to how Indian Railways manages train ticket confirmations. In a new pilot project aimed at easing passenger worries and improving travel planning, Indian Railways has begun testing a system where reservation charts are prepared 24hours before a train’s departure, rather than the current standard of four hours.

Indian Railways to Release Reservation Charts 24 Hours Before Departure: Here’s What It Means for Passengers

Currently, passengers - especially those with waitlisted tickets - have to wait until the final hours before departure to know if their ticket has been confirmed. This has long been a source of stress for travellers, particularly those commuting from distant towns and cities to catch their trains.

Under the new system being trialled in the Bikaner Division of Rajasthan,reservation charts will be finalized a full day before the train departs. This would give passengers greater clarity and more time to make alternate arrangements if needed.

“Passengers will no longer need to wait until the last few hours. If their tickets aren’t confirmed, they can plan alternative travel options with enough time in hand,” said Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board.

If the trial proves successful, Indian Railways plans to expand this initiative to other divisions and eventually implement it nationwide.

How Will This Affect Ticket Cancellations and Refunds?

The new 24-hour charting rule will also shift the cancellation and refund policies accordingly. As per existing rules:

• Cancelling a confirmed ticket between 48 and 12 hours before departure results in a 25% deduction of the fare.

• Cancelling between 12 and 4 hours before departure attracts higher charges.

• Once the reservation chart is prepared, no refund is given for confirmed tickets. With the new system, the window to cancel tickets and still receive a refund will move to before the 24-hour chart preparation time.

Do Refund Amounts Vary by Ticket Class?

Yes - cancellation deductions are calculated based on your ticket class:
AC class tickets incur higher cancellation fees due to their higher fares.
Sleeper and General class tickets attract comparatively lower deductions.
For unconfirmed waitlisted tickets, nearly the entire fare is refunded upon cancellation.
Passengers can check their refund status easily via the IRCTC website or IRCTC mobile app, where the deducted amount and refund details are displayed.

What About Tatkal Tickets?

The new rule won’t impact those booking last-minute Tatkal tickets. However, the Railway Ministry has introduced another big change for Tatkal travellers:
From 1 July 2025, Aadhaar card authentication will be mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets on IRCTC’s website and app.
Bookings made through railway ticket counters or authorized agents will also require OTP verification on the mobile number provided at the time of booking, effective 15 July 2025.

Additionally, during the first half-hour of Tatkal booking windows, ticketing agents will be barred from reserving tickets to prevent hoarding.

Also Read: Aadhaar to Be Made Mandatory for Tatkal Train Tickets

Why Is Indian Railways Doing This?

The decision was first suggested during Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s visit to Bikaner on 21 May 2025. Local officials highlighted how last-minute charting caused inconvenience for long-distance passengers and created chaos at stations. The minister approved the trial immediately.

According to railway officials, the primary aim is to:

• Provide waitlisted passengers with clarity on their travel status sooner.

• Reduce last-minute cancellations and rush at stations.

• Improve operational management of berth allocations and waiting lists.

• Enhance digital services and modernization efforts within the railway system.

Passengers traveling popular routes such as Delhi-Bihar, Uttar Pradesh-Mumbai, or Bengal-Gujarat, where waiting lists often run into hundreds, are expected to benefit the most.

When Will It Roll Out Nationwide?

For now, the 24-hour charting system is only being tested on select routes in Rajasthan’s Bikaner Division. Railway officials stated the trial would continue for a few more weeks before nationwide implementation is considered. Revised refund and cancellation rules would follow, based on passenger feedback and operational feasibility.

Key Takeaways for Travellers

• Waitlisted passengers will know their final booking status 24 hours before departure

• Confirmed ticket cancellations must be made before chart preparation to qualify for a refund.

• Tatkal bookings will require Aadhaar authentication from 1 July 2025 for online bookings and OTP verification for counter bookings from 15 July 2025.

• Refund deductions vary by ticket class, with AC tickets attracting higher charges. Refund status can be checked via the IRCTC website and app.