In a bid to improve passenger convenience and transparency, Indian Railways has begun experimenting with a policy that prepares reservation charts a full 24 hours before a train’s departure. The pilot, launched in the Bikaner division on 11 June 2025, marks a significant shift from the long-standing practice of finalising charts just four hours before the scheduled departure time. Railway officials say the aim is to provide wait-listed travellers with a clear indication of their ticket status well ahead of time, allowing them to make alternative arrangements or cancel bookings without the last-minute scramble that often accompanies train journeys.
Under the existing rules, passengers cancelling a confirmed ticket between 48 and 12 hours before departure receive a 25 per cent refund, while cancellations made 12 to 4 hours before departure attract a 50 per cent deduction. After charting is done, no refund is granted on confirmed tickets. This tight window leaves many travellers in limbo, unsure whether their wait-listed tickets will be confirmed and whether they should look for other options. The new 24-hour charting experiment seeks to address this pain point by finalising berth allocations earlier, thereby freeing up berths for those on the waiting list more promptly.
During the pilot, seats that fall vacant after the final chart is prepared will be made available for booking through current booking counters. Officials are monitoring passenger feedback to gauge whether the extended charting window reduces last-minute cancellations and improves satisfaction. If the trial proves successful, the system could be rolled out on a larger scale, potentially during peak festival seasons when demand surges and anxiety over ticket confirmation peaks. By giving passengers a 24-hour heads-up on their ticket status, Indian Railways hopes to make long-distance train travel less stressful, more predictable and better aligned with the needs of modern travellers.
