When Does Railway Chart Get Prepared?

The reservation chart is the final word on your ticket status. Once it's prepared, your PNR either shows confirmed with a berth number, RAC with a shared berth, or WL — which means you can't board (and e-tickets get auto-cancelled). Knowing when the chart gets prepared helps you plan everything from last-minute cancellations to reaching the station on time.

When Is the Chart Prepared?

The first chart is typically prepared 4 hours before the train's scheduled departure from its originating station. So:

• Train departing at 4:00 PM → Chart prepared around 12:00 PM
• Train departing at 10:00 PM → Chart prepared around 6:00 PM
• Train departing at 6:00 AM → Chart prepared around 2:00 AM

A second chart (also called supplementary chart) is prepared approximately 30 minutes before departure. This second chart accounts for any last-minute cancellations that happened between the first and second chart preparation.

Important: Chart Preparation Is Based on SOURCE Station

If you're boarding at an intermediate station, the chart is still prepared based on the train's originating station departure time, not your boarding station time.

Example: Train 12301 Howrah Rajdhani departs New Delhi at 4:55 PM. The chart is prepared around 12:55 PM. If you're boarding at Kanpur (scheduled 10:30 PM), the chart was prepared hours before your boarding time. Don't wait until evening to check your status.

What Happens During Chart Preparation

1. All unconfirmed WL e-tickets are automatically cancelled
2. Refunds for auto-cancelled e-tickets are initiated
3. RAC passengers are assigned specific side-lower berths
4. Confirmed passengers get their final coach and berth numbers
5. The chart is printed and displayed at the station (both digitally and on paper at coach doors)

Checking If Chart Is Prepared

When you check your PNR status on IRCTC or indianrail.app, the result shows either:

• "Chart Not Prepared" — The chart hasn't been prepared yet. Status may still change.
• "Chart Prepared" — This is your final status. Coach and berth numbers are assigned.

After you see "Chart Prepared," your booking status and current status columns will show the final outcome.

What If You're WL After Chart Preparation?

E-ticket booked on IRCTC: Auto-cancelled. Refund processed to your payment method. You don't need to do anything. Counter ticket (physical ticket): Not auto-cancelled. You need to get a refund from the counter before the train departs. If you don't cancel before departure, you lose the entire fare. RAC after chart preparation: You can board. You'll have a shared side-lower berth. The TTE may allot you a full berth on the train if there are no-shows.

Between First and Second Chart

The gap between first chart (4 hours before) and second chart (30 minutes before) is interesting. During this period:

• People who see their ticket as WL in the first chart often cancel their counter tickets at the station
• These cancellations free up berths
• The second chart assigns these newly freed berths to RAC passengers

So if you were RAC after the first chart, there's still hope that the second chart confirms you with a full berth.

Last-Minute Cancellation Timing

If you want to cancel your ticket, timing matters:

• Before chart preparation: Full refund minus standard cancellation charges
• After chart preparation but before departure: Reduced refund (higher cancellation charges apply)
• After train departure: No refund from counter; TDR required for e-tickets

This is why many people cancel right before chart preparation — to avoid the higher post-chart charges.

Practical Scenarios

Scenario 1: You're WL/5 (GNWL) and chart gets prepared — you become CNF with berth B3/45. Great, you're confirmed! Scenario 2: You're WL/15 and chart gets prepared — still shows WL. E-ticket auto-cancelled. Time to look at Tatkal or alternate options. Scenario 3: You're RAC/3 after first chart. Second chart shows CNF S8/22. You got confirmed in the second chart! Scenario 4: You're RAC/8 after both charts. You board with RAC status. TTE allots you empty berth 30 minutes after departure. You sleep comfortably.

Pro Tips

Set an alarm for chart preparation time. Calculate when the chart will be prepared for your train and check PNR status immediately after. This gives you maximum time to make alternate arrangements if needed. Don't rush to the station before chart preparation. Especially for evening/night trains, there's no point reaching the station before you know your final status. Check PNR first, then leave. If your train departs early morning, the chart is prepared late night. For a 5 AM train, the chart is prepared around 1 AM. If you're a light sleeper, set an alarm to check. Otherwise, just check before leaving for the station. Chart status updates on the IRCTC site can have a lag. Sometimes the chart is prepared but the website still shows "Chart Not Prepared" for 15-20 minutes. If you're checking right around the expected time, wait a bit and check again.

Understanding chart preparation timing removes a lot of uncertainty from train travel. You know exactly when to expect your final status and can plan accordingly.