There’s good news for millions of train passengers in India. Those with waiting list tickets will no longer have to wait until the last few hours to find out whether their ticket has been confirmed or not. According to sources, Indian Railways has initiated a major change — the reservation chart for waiting list passengers will now be prepared 24 hours in advance instead of just 4 hours before departure.
This new system began as a trial on one train under the Bikaner Division on June 6. As per railway sources, the initial four days of the trial have shown very positive results. Passengers found it more convenient and had more time and clarity to plan their journey accordingly.
Current System vs New System
Until now, the final reservation chart used to be prepared just 2.5 to 4 hours before the train’s departure. This gave passengers very little time to decide whether to proceed with their journey. However, with the chart being ready a day in advance, passengers will have enough time to explore alternative options like flights, buses, or other trains. This change will be especially helpful on heavily booked routes like Delhi to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, or routes between UP-Bihar and Mumbai-Gujarat — where waiting lists often go up to 400 and tickets move to “Regret” status.
Railways to Benefit Too
Railways will also benefit from this early charting system. With the data available a day earlier, it will help in better planning, such as adding more coaches, running clone trains, or making additional arrangements for passengers. Importantly, Indian Railways has clarified that this new move will not affect any existing ticket booking rules. Tatkal booking and other reservation processes will continue as usual.
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Idea Originated from Bikaner Visit
On May 21, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Bikaner, where local railway officials suggested increasing the time gap for chart preparation. The minister appreciated the idea and immediately approved the plan.
To Be Expanded Soon
After the successful trial in Bikaner, Indian Railways now plans to implement this system across other regions of the country — especially on routes with high passenger traffic and long waiting lists. This move will not only simplify journey planning for passengers but also help Railways manage crowd-heavy trains more efficiently. If successful, this system could ensure that every passenger knows at least a day in advance whether their ticket has been confirmed or not.