Railway Chart Preparation Time 2026

When Is Your Train’s Chart Prepared?

The first reservation chart is now prepared 10 hours before departure for most trains, or by 8 PM the previous night for morning trains. The second and final chart comes out 30 minutes before departure. These timings took effect after the Railway Board’s December 2025 revision and remain the rule in 2026.

If your train leaves at 10 PM, the first chart will be ready by noon. If it leaves at 7 AM, you will know your status by 8 PM the night before. The change from the old 4-hour window is significant, and it was made for one reason: to give passengers clarity earlier.

Quick Answer: Chart Timings at a Glance

Train Departs	First Chart Ready	Final Chart Ready
5:00 AM to 2:00 PM	Previous night at 8:00 PM	30 min before departure
2:01 PM to 5:00 AM (next day)	10 hours before departure	30 min before departure

What Is Railway Chart Preparation?

When you book a train ticket on IRCTC, your PNR shows a status: confirmed, RAC, or waitlisted. That status is provisional until the reservation chart is prepared.

Chart preparation is the process where Indian Railways finalizes the passenger list. Vacant seats from various quotas (general, Tatkal, senior citizen, ladies, emergency) are merged and allocated. Each passenger gets a specific coach and berth number. The chart is then published at stations and on the IRCTC website.

Two charts are prepared for every train. The first one locks in the bulk of allocations. The second one captures last-minute changes.

Railway Chart Preparation Time in 2026

The Railway Board issued a revised instruction on December 16, 2025, pushing the first chart earlier than ever before. The rule now works like this.

First Chart Timing

For trains departing between 5:00 AM and 2:00 PM:

The first chart is prepared by 8:00 PM on the previous night. Take the example of the 12301 Howrah Rajdhani Express, which leaves at 1:55 PM. Its first chart is ready by 8 PM the night before. A passenger in Howrah knows by Sunday evening whether their Monday afternoon seat is confirmed.

For trains departing after 2:01 PM and up to 5:00 AM the next day:

The first chart is prepared at least 10 hours before departure. A train leaving at 11 PM has its first chart ready by 1 PM the same day. A train departing at 3 AM has its chart ready by 5 PM the previous evening.

This 10-hour window is a rolling offset from departure time, not a fixed clock hour. The system calculates it automatically.

Second (Final) Chart Timing

The final chart is prepared 30 minutes before the scheduled departure for all trains, regardless of timing. This chart accounts for cancellations that happened after the first chart. Any RAC upgrades or last-minute confirmations are reflected here.

Why the Timing Changed

Until mid-2025, the first chart was prepared only 4 hours before departure. In July 2025, the Railway Board moved it to 8 hours. By December 2025, they pushed it further to 10 hours, or 8 PM the previous night for morning trains.

The reason, stated clearly in the Railway Board’s circular, was to “remove the anxiety of passengers coming from remote locations to get long-distance trains.” If you live two hours from the nearest station and your ticket shows WL 5, knowing this at 8 PM the night before is very different from knowing it at 4 AM on the day of travel. The earlier window gives you time to make a real decision.

How Chart Preparation Affects Your Ticket

Waiting List (WL)

If your e-ticket is still on the waiting list when the first chart is prepared, it is automatically cancelled. The system does this immediately. A full refund, minus a clerical fee of around 20 rupees plus GST per passenger, is credited back to your account within 5 to 7 working days.

You cannot board the train on a waitlisted ticket after chart preparation. For e-tickets, an unconfirmed waitlisted ticket is automatically cancelled after the first chart.

Can a WL ticket get confirmed after the first chart?

For e-tickets, no. Once the first chart is prepared, any unconfirmed waitlisted e-ticket is cancelled. It cannot be revived. However, for counter tickets (booked at PRS stations), the rules can differ slightly depending on the station, and confirmation may still be possible between the first and second charts. This is a niche case and most passengers with e-tickets should treat the first chart as the final deadline for WL confirmation.

RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation)

RAC is not the same as waitlisted. An RAC ticket means you have a confirmed right to board the train, but you will share a side-lower berth with another RAC passenger. You can board, and the TTE will assign you a seat.

RAC passengers often get full berths between the first and second chart. When confirmed passengers cancel, their berths open up, and RAC passengers move up. This happens in the final chart 30 minutes before departure. If you hold RAC, keep checking your PNR status until the final chart is out.

RAC passengers can also cancel their tickets until the final chart is prepared and get a refund.

Confirmed Tickets

Once the first chart is prepared, your coach and berth numbers are locked. Online cancellation is no longer available for confirmed e-tickets. If you need to cancel, you must file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) on IRCTC after the train departs to claim a partial refund. At a station counter, cancellation is allowed until 30 minutes before departure.

Can You Book Tickets After Chart Preparation?

Yes. Even after the first chart is prepared, tickets can be booked if seats are available. This is called current booking and is allowed until 30 minutes before departure. This applies to general as well as Tatkal quotas, as long as there is vacancy.

How to Check Whether the Chart Has Been Prepared

Checking the chart is straightforward.

1. Go to the IRCTC website or open the IRCTC app.
2. Navigate to the Reservation Charts section.
3. Enter your train number and journey date.
4. Select your boarding station.
5. The chart will display passenger names, coach numbers, and berth allocations.

Alternatively, you can check your PNR status on the IRCTC site or any third-party PNR enquiry service. Once the chart is prepared, your status updates to show CNF (confirmed), RAC, or cancelled.

The RailOne app, which replaced the old UTS app in March 2026, also displays chart status.

Common Mistakes Passengers Make

Assuming WL will confirm after the first chart. For e-tickets, it will not. Check your status before the first chart time and make alternative plans if needed.

Not checking the final chart. RAC passengers sometimes assume their status will not change. The final chart can upgrade RAC to full berths, so check again 30 minutes before departure.

Missing the boarding point change window. From April 1, 2026, confirmed and RAC passengers can change their boarding point until the second chart (30 minutes before departure). This is useful if your plans change last minute. The change is free and can be done online on IRCTC or at a PRS counter.

Confusing chart time for boarding station with origin station timing. Chart preparation is always calculated from the train’s origin station departure time, not your boarding station. If you board at an intermediate station, the chart is still prepared based on when the train leaves its starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the railway chart prepared twice?

Yes. Indian Railways prepares two charts: the first chart (10 hours before departure or 8 PM previous night) and the final chart (30 minutes before departure).

Can WL become confirmed after chart preparation?

For e-tickets, no. Waitlisted e-tickets are auto-cancelled at the first chart. For counter tickets, local station rules may allow confirmation between the first and second charts.

What time is the chart prepared for morning trains?

For trains departing between 5 AM and 2 PM, the first chart is prepared by 8 PM the previous night.

Can I cancel after chart preparation?

Online cancellation closes for confirmed e-tickets after the first chart. You can file a TDR after departure for a partial refund. At a station counter, cancellation is allowed until 30 minutes before departure.

Can I change my boarding station after the first chart?

Yes, as of April 1, 2026. Confirmed and RAC passengers can change their boarding point until the final chart is prepared (30 minutes before departure). This applies to both online and counter bookings.

How do I know my train chart is ready?

Check your PNR status on the IRCTC website. If the chart is prepared, your status will show CNF, RAC, or cancelled. You can also use the IRCTC Reservation Charts page by entering your train number and date.

Does the chart preparation time differ for Rajdhani, Duronto, or Shatabdi trains?

No. The rule is the same across all train categories. A Rajdhani and a regular express departing at the same time follow identical chart preparation timings.

What happens to Tatkal waitlisted tickets at chart time?

Tatkal waiting list (TQWL) tickets also auto-cancel at the first chart if unconfirmed. Unlike general waitlist tickets, Tatkal tickets do not move to RAC. Refunds are processed minus applicable charges.

What if my train is delayed by several hours?

Chart preparation is based on the scheduled departure time, not the actual delayed time. If the train is officially rescheduled, the Railways may adjust the chart timing. Check NTES or your IRCTC ticket for updates.

What You Should Do

If your ticket is waitlisted, check your PNR status before the first chart preparation time. If it is still WL, do not head to the station expecting to board. Look for alternative trains, consider the Vikalp scheme (which automatically shifts you to alternate trains if available), or book a bus or flight.

If your ticket is RAC, you can board. Check again before the final chart for a possible upgrade to a full berth.

If your ticket is confirmed, note your coach and berth number once the chart is out. If your plans change, remember you can file a TDR for a partial refund or cancel at a station counter up to 30 minutes before departure.

The 2026 chart timing changes are a genuine improvement for passengers. Ten hours of notice instead of four changes the equation entirely for waitlisted travelers. Use that time wisely.