Overview

• A Railway Board circular issued July 2 requires all zones to shift from a four-hour to an eight-to-17-hour advance charting window for first reservation charts.
• First charts for trains departing between 5 am and 2 pm must be ready by 9 pm the previous night, and those outside that slot eight hours before departure.
• The second reservation chart timing remains unchanged at 30 minutes before departure to accommodate last-minute bookings.
• The mandate covers every zonal railway including remote locations and builds on successful pilots such as the Bikaner division’s 24-hour trials.
• Implementation is slated to begin within seven days, aiming to reduce waitlist uncertainty and give passengers more time to plan alternative travel arrangements.