Chart preparation time calculator
When your train’s chart is made, so you know when waitlists settle and cancellation closes.
First chart prepared by
- First chartWaiting list and RAC settle; coach and berth numbers appear
- Final chartAt least 30 minutes before; current booking closes
- DepartureFrom the train's first station
The rule
| Train leaves its first station | First chart, from 30 Dec 2025 | Before (July 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 05:01 to 14:00 | By 20:00 the evening before | By 21:00 the evening before |
| 14:01 to 05:00 | 10 hours before departure | 8 hours before departure |
| Any train, final chart | At least 30 minutes before | 30 to 5 minutes before |
Source: the timing in force from 30 December 2025 comes from a Railway Board passenger marketing circular reported by The Hitavada (27 Dec 2025) and Business Standard (18 Dec 2025). The Ministry of Railways confirmed on 24 March 2026 (PIB) that charts are now made 9 to 18 hours before departure, which is exactly this rule: 9 hours for a 05:01 departure, 18 hours for 14:00. The earlier timing is Railway Board Commercial Circular 10 of 2025, which says "preferably", so a chart can come a little earlier or later. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
What to do before and after the chart
Cancel before the first chart if your plans change, check the PNR once the chart is out, and use current booking after it if you still need a berth. The steps below follow the clock.
- Before the first chartCancel if you mustAn e-ticket cannot be cancelled once the chart is made. The refund calculator shows the charge at each step.
- At the first chartWaitlists settleCoach and berth numbers appear and the waiting list is settled: what happens to a waitlisted ticket at chart time. Codes: railway waiting list codes.
- First chart to final chartCurrent bookingVacant berths are sold on IRCTC and at counters at the normal fare until the final chart: current booking after the chart.
Chart questions
When is the train chart prepared?
Chart preparation time depends on departure. For trains leaving their first station between 05:01 and 14:00, the first chart is prepared by 20:00 the previous evening. For all other trains it is prepared 10 hours before departure. A final chart follows at least 30 minutes before departure. The Ministry of Railways confirmed this 9 to 18 hour range in March 2026.
Did chart timing change in December 2025?
Yes. From 30 December 2025 the first chart moved from 21:00 to 20:00 the previous evening for morning trains, and from 8 to 10 hours before departure for the rest, as The Hitavada and Business Standard reported. The Ministry of Railways confirmed on 24 March 2026 that charts are now made 9 to 18 hours before departure.
What happens to a waitlisted ticket when the chart is prepared?
A waiting list e-ticket that has not cleared is cancelled and refunded, less ₹60 per passenger, and RAC passengers get a shared berth. The full rules are on the waiting list ticket rules page.
Can I book after the chart is prepared?
Yes, under current booking: berths still vacant after the first chart are sold on IRCTC and at counters until the final chart, shortly before departure.
Can I cancel after the chart is prepared?
The Ministry of Railways said on 24 March 2026 that e-ticket refunds now come automatically on cancellation, with no TDR, and the last refund window closes 8 hours before departure. IRCTC's published rules still say an e-ticket cannot be cancelled after the chart, so cancel before the first chart to be safe.