Attn travelers: Reservation charts will now be available eight hours before train’s departure
Railways have revamped ticket booking system as reservation charts will be available 8 hours before train’s departure
By Newsmeter Network
Indian Railways: Reservation chart for travellers to be available 8 hours before departure
New Delhi: Indian Railways has decided to prepare reservation charts eight hours before a train’s departure, replacing the current practice of preparing them just four hours in advance.
This move is aimed at reducing uncertainty for travellers, particularly those holding waitlisted tickets, by giving them ample time to check their status and make alternative travel plans if needed.
Minister reviews booking reforms
The decision was taken after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the ongoing reforms in the ticket booking system. Emphasising the need for a smart, transparent, and efficient process, he directed officials to keep passenger convenience at the centre of all such measures.
Revised timings for morning trains
As per the revised plan, for trains departing before 2 pm., reservation charts will now be prepared the previous night at 9 pm. The change will be implemented in a phased manner to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting services.
Big relief for waitlisted passengers
Railway officials said the move would be especially beneficial for passengers travelling from remote areas or suburban regions, where last-minute travel changes pose a greater challenge. Early chart preparation will make travel plans more predictable for those depending on ticket confirmations.
Passenger Reservation System to be upgraded
Alongside this change, Indian Railways is also working on upgrading its Passenger Reservation System (PRS). The upgraded system, being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), is expected to be ready by December 2025.
Officials said the new PRS would be capable of handling ten times the current load, allowing booking of over 1.5 lakh tickets per minute and managing more than 40 lakh ticket enquiries per minute.
New PRS features for user convenience
The upgraded PRS will feature a user-friendly, multilingual interface with additional options such as fare calendars, seat preferences, and integrated support for Divyangjan, students, and patients.
Tatkal bookings to be OTP authenticated
Additionally, Indian Railways has announced that from July 1 onwards, only authenticated users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app.
By the end of July, Tatkal bookings will require OTP-based authentication using Aadhaar or any other verified government ID linked to the user’s DigiLocker account, further enhancing security and streamlining the booking process.
