When Will My Train Chart Be Prepared?
Exact IRCTC Charting Clock & Reminders
Don't guess or stress over waitlist status all night. Calculate the exact minute IRCTC generates the 1st and final reservation charts, and set a 1-click reminder on Google Calendar, Apple iCal, or WhatsApp.
Patna Tejas Rajdhani Express(#12310)
Departure: Mon, 14 Sep 2026 at 5:10 PM
Mon, 14 Sep 2026 at 1:10 PM
Primary waitlist clearance and quota re-allocations happen here.
Closes 4:40 PM
Remaining vacant berths sold online on IRCTC at discounted rates.
Mon, 14 Sep 2026 at 4:40 PM
Handed over to TTE. Unconfirmed e-tickets auto-cancelled for full refund.
Waitlist cancellation charges are lowest before this chart. Check your PNR right after the chart is finalized.
Official Indian Railways Chart Preparation Timetable
Authoritative rules implemented across all express, mail, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat trains.
| Departure Time Window | 1st Chart Preparation | 2nd & Final Chart | Current Booking Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Morning 00:01 AM – 06:00 AM | Previous Evening at 20:00 (8:00 PM) | 30 minutes before departure | Open all night until Chart 2 |
| Morning & Midday 06:01 AM – 13:59 PM | Previous Evening at 20:00 (8:00 PM) | 30 minutes before departure | Open from 8 PM until Chart 2 |
| Afternoon & Evening 14:00 PM – 23:59 PM | At least 4 Hours Prior to Departure | 30 minutes before departure | Open 4h window until Chart 2 |
| Remote Location Quota (RLWL) Major Intermediate Junctions | 4 Hours Before Train Arrival at Junction | 30 minutes before train arrival | Open 4h prior at that station |
Exact Charting Times for Top Flagship Trains
Click any train to calculate live countdown and set 1-click Google Calendar & WhatsApp reminders.
| Train Details | Origin & Dep. Time | 1st Chart Ready | 2nd (Final) Chart | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#12310Patna Tejas Rajdhani Express New Delhi ➔ 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 ➔ Howrah Jn | 16:55 NDLS Terminal | 12:55 PM 4 Hours Prior | 16:25 PM 30m before departure | |
#12952Mumbai Tejas Rajdhani Express New Delhi ➔ Mumbai Central | 16:55 NDLS Terminal | 12:55 PM 4 Hours Prior | 16:25 PM 30m before departure | |
#12424Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express New Delhi ➔ Dibrugarh | 16:20 NDLS Terminal | 12:20 PM 4 Hours Prior | 15:50 PM 30m before departure | |
#12314Sealdah Rajdhani Express New Delhi ➔ Sealdah (Kolkata) | 16:30 NDLS Terminal | 12:30 PM 4 Hours Prior | 16:00 PM 30m before departure | |
#22436Varanasi Vande Bharat Express New Delhi ➔ 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 ➔ 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 ➔ 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 ➔ 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 ➔ 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 ➔ 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 ➔ Kalka (Shimla Link) | 17:15 NDLS Terminal | 13:15 PM 4 Hours Prior | 16:45 PM 30m before departure | |
#12014Amritsar Shatabdi Express Amritsar Jn ➔ 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 ➔ Banaras (Varanasi) | 20:05 NDLS Terminal | 16:05 PM 4 Hours Prior | 19:35 PM 30m before departure | |
#12394Sampoorna Kranti Express New Delhi ➔ Rajendra Nagar (Patna) | 17:30 NDLS Terminal | 13:30 PM 4 Hours Prior | 17:00 PM 30m before departure | |
#12418Prayagraj Express New Delhi ➔ Prayagraj Jn | 22:10 NDLS Terminal | 18:10 PM 4 Hours Prior | 21:40 PM 30m before departure | |
#12628Karnataka Express New Delhi ➔ KSR Bengaluru | 20:20 NDLS Terminal | 16:20 PM 4 Hours Prior | 19:50 PM 30m before departure | |
#12622Tamil Nadu Express New Delhi ➔ MGR Chennai Central | 21:05 NDLS Terminal | 17:05 PM 4 Hours Prior | 20:35 PM 30m before departure | |
#12554Vaishali Express New Delhi ➔ Saharsa Jn | 20:40 NDLS Terminal | 16:40 PM 4 Hours Prior | 20:10 PM 30m before departure | |
#12138Punjab Mail Firozpur Cantt ➔ Mumbai CSMT | 21:45 FZR Terminal | 17:45 PM 4 Hours Prior | 21:15 PM 30m before departure |
The 5-Minute Charting Protocol: What to Do When Chart is Ready
The minutes immediately following chart preparation determine whether you get a comfortable berth or get left stranded. Follow these 5 rules based on your ticket status:
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 platform.
Guaranteed Travel Allowed
You are legally entitled to travel! You have a confirmed sitting seat on a Side Lower berth. Onboard TTEs will upgrade you to a full sleeping berth if any confirmed passenger fails to turn up.
Boarding Prohibited • Full Refund
Your name is dropped from the chart. Boarding is illegal (penalty ₹250 + full fare). IRCTC will refund 100% fare automatically to your bank. Check Current Booking immediately or take a bus/flight.
Station Window Cancellation
PRS counter tickets are NOT auto-cancelled. Cancel at the station counter up to 30 mins before train departure for refund (minus clerkage fee), or approach TTE to board the general unreserved coach.
One Person Confirmed, One Person Waitlisted
Under IRCTC rules, the waitlisted passenger on a joint PNR CAN travel with the confirmed passenger, provided you obtain permission from the TTE onboard. Alternatively, if the confirmed passenger decides NOT to travel because the family member is waitlisted, you must file a TDR online up to 30 minutes before scheduled train departure to obtain a full refund for ALL passengers on that ticket!
Current Booking: 10% Flat Discount on Vacant Seats
Once Chart 1 is finalized, all leftover vacant berths from cancellations and unutilized VIP quotas are opened to the public under Current Booking (CURR_AVBL). Indian Railways automatically deducts 10% off the basic fare!
View Coach Vacant Berths in Real Time
Indian Railways launched a public visual chart portal where you can view interactive coach diagrams after Chart 1 is prepared:
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 Type | Boarding Station | Confirmation Rate at Charting | Quotas Released into Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNWL General Waitlist | Originating terminal or nearby | Highest (80%–95%) | Emergency Quota (EQ/HO), Defense, Foreign Tourist, Senior Citizen unutilized seats. |
| RLWL Remote Location WL | Important intermediate junction | Moderate (40%–60%) | Only clears if passengers who originally booked from that remote junction cancel tickets. |
| PQWL Pooled Quota WL | Small intermediate stations | Very Low (10%–25%) | Tiny shared quota across 10–15 stations. No VIP or emergency quota drops into PQWL. |
| TQWL Tatkal Waitlist | Booked under Tatkal quota | Extremely 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 “No 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 “Confirmed” with coach “--” and seat “00”. Many passengers worry that their ticket is incomplete.
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.
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:
Flat clerkage fee: ₹240 (1A/EC), ₹200 (2A), ₹180 (3A/3E), ₹120 (SL), ₹60 (2S).
25% of total ticket fare deducted, subject to minimum clerkage charges.
50% of total ticket fare deducted, subject to minimum clerkage charges.
Zero refund on confirmed tickets. Waitlisted e-tickets get 100% automatic refund!
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.
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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 ₹250 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 “CURR_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.