Technology • Jul 02, 2025

Indian Railways introduces new charting system

Starting next week, Indian Railways will prep the first reservation chart at least eight hours before your train leaves—instead of just four.
This means if you're waitlisted, you'll find out sooner whether you've got a seat or need to make other plans.

TL;DR

How the chart preparation works

For trains leaving between 5am and 2pm the chart drops by 9pm the night before.
For trains going between 2pm and 5am it's ready eight hours ahead of departure.
The second chart (the last-minute one) still comes out half an hour before the train leaves.

What happens once the chart is prepared

Once that first chart is out, any available seats are up for grabs—online or offline—on a first-come basis.
This update should help everyone get real-time info and avoid last-minute surprises if their ticket isn't confirmed.