Official IRCTC Charting Algorithm

When Will Your Train Chart Be Prepared?

Calculate the exact time IRCTC generates the 1st and final reservation charts, and set a 1-click reminder.

Quick Date:
Chart Not Prepared Yet#12310

New Delhi – Rajendra Nagar Superfast Express

Departure: Tue, 15 Sep 2026 at 5:10 PM

Time until 1st Chart--:--:--
Expected: Tue, 15 Sep 2026 at 1:10 PM
1st Chart4 Hours Prior
1:10 PM

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 at 1:10 PM

Primary waitlist clearance and quota re-allocations happen here.

Current Booking10% Discount
Chart 1 βž” Chart 2

Closes 4:40 PM

Remaining vacant berths sold online on IRCTC at 10% lower base fare.

Final Chart30 Mins Prior
4:40 PM

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 at 4:40 PM

Handed over to TTE. Unconfirmed e-tickets are auto-cancelled with 100% refund.

Next Step:

Waitlist cancellation charges are lowest before this chart. Check your PNR right after the chart is finalized.

Set Reminder or Export:

Official Indian Railways Chart Preparation Timetable

Authoritative rules implemented across all express, mail, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat trains.

Departure Time Window1st Chart Preparation2nd & Final ChartCurrent Booking Window
Early Morning
00:01 AM – 06:00 AM
Previous Evening at 20:00 (8:00 PM)30 minutes before departureOpen all night until Chart 2
Morning & Midday
06:01 AM – 13:59 PM
Previous Evening at 20:00 (8:00 PM)30 minutes before departureOpen from 8 PM until Chart 2
Afternoon & Evening
14:00 PM – 23:59 PM
At least 4 Hours Prior to Departure30 minutes before departureOpen 4h window until Chart 2
Remote Location Quota (RLWL)
Major Intermediate Junctions
4 Hours Before Train Arrival at Junction30 minutes before train arrivalOpen 4h prior at that station

Charting Times for Top Flagship Trains

Select any train to calculate live countdown and set 1-click reminders.

Train DetailsOrigin & Dep. Time1st Chart Ready2nd (Final) ChartAction
#12310Patna Tejas Rajdhani Express
New Delhi βž” Rajendra Nagar (Patna)
17:10
NDLS Terminal
13:10 PM
4 Hours Prior
16:40 PM
30m before departure
#12302Howrah Rajdhani Express (via Gaya)
New Delhi βž” Howrah Jn
16:55
NDLS Terminal
12:55 PM
4 Hours Prior
16:25 PM
30m before departure
#12952Mumbai Tejas Rajdhani Express
New Delhi βž” Mumbai Central
16:55
NDLS Terminal
12:55 PM
4 Hours Prior
16:25 PM
30m before departure
#12424Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express
New Delhi βž” Dibrugarh
16:20
NDLS Terminal
12:20 PM
4 Hours Prior
15:50 PM
30m before departure
#12314Sealdah Rajdhani Express
New Delhi βž” Sealdah (Kolkata)
16:30
NDLS Terminal
12:30 PM
4 Hours Prior
16:00 PM
30m before departure
#22436Varanasi Vande Bharat Express
New Delhi βž” Varanasi Jn
06:00
NDLS Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
05:30 AM
30m before departure
#20978Ajmer - Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat
Ajmer Jn βž” Delhi Cantt
06:20
AII Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
05:50 AM
30m before departure
#20608Mysuru - Chennai Vande Bharat
Mysuru Jn βž” MGR Chennai Central
13:05
MYS Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
12:35 PM
30m before departure
#20607Chennai - Mysuru Vande Bharat
MGR Chennai Central βž” Mysuru Jn
05:50
MAS Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
05:20 AM
30m before departure
#12002Bhopal Shatabdi Express
New Delhi βž” Rani Kamlapati (Bhopal)
06:00
NDLS Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
05:30 AM
30m before departure
#12004Lucknow Shatabdi Express
New Delhi βž” Lucknow Charbagh
06:10
NDLS Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
05:40 AM
30m before departure
#12005Kalka Shatabdi Express
New Delhi βž” Kalka (Shimla Link)
17:15
NDLS Terminal
13:15 PM
4 Hours Prior
16:45 PM
30m before departure
#12014Amritsar Shatabdi Express
Amritsar Jn βž” New Delhi
04:55
ASR Terminal
20:00 PM (Prev Night)
Previous Evening 20:00 (8 PM)
04:25 AM
30m before departure
#12560Shiv Ganga Express
New Delhi βž” Banaras (Varanasi)
20:05
NDLS Terminal
16:05 PM
4 Hours Prior
19:35 PM
30m before departure
#12394Sampoorna Kranti Express
New Delhi βž” Rajendra Nagar (Patna)
17:30
NDLS Terminal
13:30 PM
4 Hours Prior
17:00 PM
30m before departure
#12418Prayagraj Express
New Delhi βž” Prayagraj Jn
22:10
NDLS Terminal
18:10 PM
4 Hours Prior
21:40 PM
30m before departure
#12628Karnataka Express
New Delhi βž” KSR Bengaluru
20:20
NDLS Terminal
16:20 PM
4 Hours Prior
19:50 PM
30m before departure
#12622Tamil Nadu Express
New Delhi βž” MGR Chennai Central
21:05
NDLS Terminal
17:05 PM
4 Hours Prior
20:35 PM
30m before departure
#12554Vaishali Express
New Delhi βž” Saharsa Jn
20:40
NDLS Terminal
16:40 PM
4 Hours Prior
20:10 PM
30m before departure
#12138Punjab Mail
Firozpur Cantt βž” Mumbai CSMT
21:45
FZR Terminal
17:45 PM
4 Hours Prior
21:15 PM
30m before departure
Showing 20 flagship trains with pre-calculated charting cycles.Want another train? Type in calculator above β†—
Traveler Guide

What to Do When Your Train Chart is Ready

Rules and next steps based on your reservation status once charting is complete:

Confirmed

Berth & Coach Assigned

Log into IRCTC or check SMS for your exact Coach (e.g., B4, M2, C1) and Berth (LB, MB, UB, SL). In First AC (1A), your Coupe/Cabin letter is now visible. Proceed directly to your platform.

RAC Status

Guaranteed Travel Allowed

You are legally entitled to travel with a confirmed sitting berth on a Side Lower seat. Onboard TTEs will upgrade you to a full sleeping berth if any confirmed passenger does not show up.

Online E-Ticket WL

Boarding Prohibited β€’ Full Refund

Your name is dropped from the chart. Boarding is not permitted. IRCTC will refund 100% of the fare automatically to your bank. Check Current Booking immediately for vacant seats.

Counter Paper Ticket WL

Station Window Cancellation

PRS counter tickets are not auto-cancelled. Cancel at the station counter up to 30 mins before train departure for a refund, or approach the TTE to authorize general unreserved travel.

Partially Confirmed Ticket

One Person Confirmed, One Waitlisted

Under IRCTC rules, the waitlisted passenger on a joint PNR may travel with the confirmed passenger with onboard TTE permission. If the party decides not to travel, file an online TDR up to 30 minutes before departure for a full refund for all passengers.

Official Booking Window

Current Booking: 10% Discount on Vacant Seats

Once Chart 1 is finalized, all leftover vacant berths from cancellations and unutilized quotas are opened to the public under Current Booking (CURR_AVBL). Indian Railways applies a 10% discount on the base fare.

Opens:Minute Chart 1 completes
Closes:30 mins before train dep (Chart 2)
Where to book:IRCTC App/Web or Station PRS
Official CRIS Portal

View Coach Vacant Berths in Real Time

Indian Railways provides a public visual chart portal where you can view interactive coach diagrams after Chart 1 is prepared:

1
Visit official portal: irctc.co.in/online-charts.
2
Enter train number and journey date.
3
Inspect coaches: Green = Empty, Yellow = Partial, Grey = Booked.
Inside Indian Railways Algorithms

Waitlist Clearance Hierarchy: GNWL vs RLWL vs PQWL vs TQWL

Ever wondered why GNWL 40 gets confirmed at chart preparation, while PQWL 5 remains stuck? Here is the exact quota cascade explained.

Quota TypeBoarding StationConfirmation Rate at ChartingQuotas Released into Pool
GNWL
General Waitlist
Originating terminal or nearbyHighest (80%–95%)Emergency Quota (EQ/HO), Defense, Foreign Tourist, Senior Citizen unutilized seats.
RLWL
Remote Location WL
Important intermediate junctionModerate (40%–60%)Only clears if passengers who originally booked from that remote junction cancel tickets.
PQWL
Pooled Quota WL
Small intermediate stationsVery Low (10%–25%)Tiny shared quota across 10–15 stations. No VIP or emergency quota drops into PQWL.
TQWL
Tatkal Waitlist
Booked under Tatkal quotaExtremely Low (5%–15%)No RAC exists in Tatkal! Only clears if someone cancels a confirmed Tatkal ticket.

How Emergency Quota (EQ / HO Quota) Clears GNWL at Charting

Indian Railways reserves a substantial block of berths in every Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Express train for VIPs, Members of Parliament, High Court Judges, and Senior Railway Officials (Head Office / HO Quota). Applications for EQ must be submitted to the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM) before 12:00 PM for evening trains and 4:00 PM the previous day for morning trains. Berths not requisitioned by VIPs are automatically transferred directly into the GNWL pool at the moment of 1st chart preparation, resulting in massive sudden waitlist clearances!

Why Does First AC (1A) Show β€œNo Seat Allotted” Until Charting?

Understanding Coupes (2 berths) vs. Cabins (4 berths) in Indian Railways.

If you book a First AC (1A) ticket or an Executive Chair Car (EC) on certain trains, your ticket status shows β€œConfirmed” with coach β€œ--” and seat β€œ00”. Many passengers worry that their ticket is incomplete.

Coupe (2 Berths) Allotment

First priority for 2-berth coupes is given to VIPs/Dignitaries, followed by married couples traveling together on a single PNR, and single female passengers. The Chief Reservation Supervisor manually reviews PNRs before finalizing Chart 1.

Cabin (4 Berths) Allotment

Cabins with 4 berths are typically allotted to families of 3 or 4 traveling together, or groups of solo male travelers. Once Chart 1 is printed, your Coupe/Cabin letter (e.g. Coupe A, Cabin B) will be sent to you via SMS.

IRCTC Cancellation Charges & TDR Rules Post-Charting

Plan your ticket cancellations strategically to avoid losing your hard-earned fare:

>48 Hours Prior

Flat clerkage fee: β‚Ή240 (1A/EC), β‚Ή200 (2A), β‚Ή180 (3A/3E), β‚Ή120 (SL), β‚Ή60 (2S).

48h to 12h Prior

25% of total ticket fare deducted, subject to minimum clerkage charges.

12h to 4h (Chart 1)

50% of total ticket fare deducted, subject to minimum clerkage charges.

After Chart 1

Zero refund on confirmed tickets. Waitlisted e-tickets get 100% automatic refund!

Can you file a TDR after chart preparation?

Yes! You can file an online TDR for a 100% refund after chart preparation under specific scenarios: (1) Train delayed >3 hours at boarding station, (2) AC failure in coach (fare difference refund), (3) Coach not attached or lower class allotted, or (4) Partially confirmed ticket where the whole party cancels. Remember to file before the actual departure of the train.

Ticket Didn't Confirm? Don't Get Stranded

Compare Next Best Trains & Smart Alternatives

Use HelpAdda's pre-booking decision engine or explore direct Vande Bharat trains.

Frequently Asked Questions (IRCTC Charting)

Comprehensive answers covering regulations, refund timelines, and RAC rules.

1. When is the reservation chart prepared for morning trains?

For all trains departing between 00:01 AM and 14:00 PM (2:00 PM), the first reservation chart is finalized by 20:00 (8:00 PM) on the previous evening. This policy allows passengers to sleep peacefully without worrying about early morning check-ins.

2. When is the chart prepared for afternoon and evening trains?

For trains departing at or after 14:00 PM (2:00 PM) until 23:59 PM, the 1st reservation chart is prepared at least 4 hours before the train's scheduled departure from the originating terminal. For example, if your train departs at 17:10 PM, Chart 1 is finalized at 13:10 PM.

3. What is the 2nd chart and what time is it prepared?

The second and final chart is generated exactly 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. It locks in all last-minute cancellations, Current Booking purchases, and emergency quota allotments. After Chart 2 is finalized, the passenger list is handed over to the onboard TTE.

4. Can I travel if my e-ticket is still waitlisted after the final chart?

No. If an online e-ticket bought on IRCTC remains fully waitlisted after Chart 2, your name is automatically dropped from the chart. Boarding the train with this PNR is illegal; the TTE will treat you as ticketless and impose a penalty of β‚Ή250 plus the full ticket fare. Your ticket is auto-cancelled and 100% refunded to your bank account.

5. What happens if a counter ticket (PRS window) remains waitlisted after charting?

Physical paper tickets bought at railway PRS station counters are NOT auto-cancelled. If waitlisted after charting, you can cancel it at any PRS counter up to 30 minutes before train departure for a refund (minus clerkage fee), or approach the onboard TTE to verify if any vacant berth is available or travel in the unreserved general coach.

6. What is Current Booking on IRCTC and how do I get the 10% discount?

Current Booking opens immediately after Chart 1 is finalized and closes 30 minutes before train departure. Any unsold vacant berths from VIP quotas or cancellations are made available on IRCTC or at PRS counters with an automatic 10% discount on the base fare. Look for β€œCURR_AVBL” on IRCTC.

7. Why do waitlist numbers make big jumps during chart preparation?

During chart preparation, unutilized quotas (Emergency Quota / HO, Defense, Foreign Tourist, Parliament, and Senior Citizen quotas) are released back into the general waitlist pool. This causes tickets with numbers like GNWL 25 or 40 to jump directly to Confirmed berths.

8. Why is my seat number not allotted even though my ticket is confirmed?

This happens in First AC (1A) and Executive Class (EC). Berths in First AC are organized into 2-berth coupes and 4-berth cabins. The Divisional Commercial Officer manually assigns passengers to cabins or coupes based on VIP protocol, senior citizens, and family groups during chart preparation. The exact berth is only revealed once Chart 1 is finalized.

9. How can I see vacant seats coach-by-coach after chart preparation?

Indian Railways offers a dedicated public portal at irctc.co.in/online-charts. Enter your train number, journey date, and boarding station to view an interactive coach layout. Green berths indicate vacant seats available for Current Booking or onboard TTE allotment.

10. Does intermediate station boarding change the chart preparation time?

The primary reservation chart is always prepared based on the departure of the train from its originating station. However, for major intermediate junctions with an assigned Remote Location quota (RLWL), a remote chart is prepared roughly 4 hours before the train arrives at that junction.

11. What happens to RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets at charting?

RAC passengers are legally guaranteed travel on the train with a sitting berth (side lower shared between two RAC ticket holders). During 1st chart preparation, almost all top RAC positions (RAC 1 to RAC 20) are upgraded to full confirmed berths. If you remain in RAC after Chart 2, you can board the train with complete peace of mind.

12. Can an onboard TTE allot a vacant seat to a waitlisted passenger?

TTEs carry Handheld Terminals (HHTs). When a confirmed passenger fails to turn up (No-Show), the HHT automatically marks the berth vacant. TTEs first upgrade RAC passengers to full berths, then offer remaining vacant berths to passengers with counter waitlisted tickets or valid unreserved tickets with excess fare collection.

13. How long does it take for a waitlisted e-ticket refund to arrive?

When a fully waitlisted e-ticket is automatically cancelled after final chart preparation, IRCTC initiates the refund process within 24 hours. The money typically reflects in your original payment mode (UPI, Net Banking, Credit/Debit card) within 3 to 5 working days.

14. Can I file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) after chart preparation?

Yes! You can file an online TDR for a full or partial refund after chart preparation if: (1) Your train is delayed by more than 3 hours, (2) AC in the coach failed during the journey, (3) A coach was not attached, or (4) On a family ticket, one passenger got confirmed and another remained waitlisted and you chose not to travel.