IRCTC Chart Preparation

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What Does Charting in IRCTC Mean?

IRCTC charting in Indian Railways is allocating seats to passengers before the departure of a train. Passengers will be assigned a berth and coach number with their final ticket status, such as Confirmed or RAC. When it comes to the waiting list, it gets automatically cancelled. You need to remember that the passenger with confirmed status can cancel their tickets after the chart preparation, which is four hours before the train departure. You can check your name, gender, age, and boarding and destination station on the IRCTC chart pasted on the coach you have booked.

When you reach the railway station, the first thing that comes to mind is to check the IRCTC chart. Before boarding the train, passengers must always check their ticket status and other details to ensure that they are boarding the correct train and coach. Once you book train tickets online, you are assigned ticket status based on the preferred quota, for example, ladies, defence, senior citizens and others. The IRCTC chart consists of journey and passenger-related information to help them identify their seat or berth, followed by ticket status.

General Rules for Train IRCTC Chart Preparation Time

Below are some essential guidelines for IRCTC train chart preparation.

  • The IRCTC chart is prepared twice in Indian Railways; the first time is 4 hours before departure, and the last time is 30 minutes before departure.
  • If the seats are still available, you can book train tickets online or at the railway reservation counter after the first chart preparation.
  • If you do not find your name in the chart even after the seats are confirmed, you may be looking at the wrong coach. In such cases, you can check with TTE for your name and ticket status to avoid any confusion during the trip.
  • If your PNR status is RAC, you can board the train but cannot get a full berth. You can share it with other fellow passengers holding the same ticket status.
  • In the case of the waiting list ticket status, you need to wait until it gets confirmed when someone cancels their confirmed tickets. This is possible if the seats are available after the first IRCTC chart preparation. You can check whether the waitlist tickets are confirmed or not in the last IRCTC train chart.
  • Once the final chart is prepared, the ticket status will not change. You are entitled to board the train if you have confirmed your RAC ticket status.

How to Check the IRCTC Chart on a Train?

Below are some common ways to check the IRCTC train chart on trains.

  • IRCTC website: After preparing the chart, you can visit the IRCTC website with your username and password to check the status of your train ticket.
  • SMS: Once the final chart is prepared, you will receive a SMS on your registered mobile number. The message will include the PNR number and coach and berth details.
  • Enquire at Railway Station: You can visit the enquiry desk at the railway station to find out about the status of your ticket after the IRCTC chart preparation. You can do this if you do not find your journey details and ticket status on the chart.

Essential Information on IRCTC Chart in Indian Railways.

Below is some of the crucial information mentioned in the IRCTC chart before boarding the train.

  • Name of the Passenger: The IRCTC chart will include a list of passengers' names. This will help you check the passenger-related details efficiently.
  • Seat Allocation: It will display the seat or berth and coach number. This will help you find the specific seat and get settled without disturbing fellow passengers.
  • Boarding and Destination Stations: The chart will mention the boarding and destination stations. For example, if you are travelling from Hyderabad to Chennai, the former will be the boarding station, and the latter will be the destination station.
  • Ticket Status: The most important information mentioned in the IRCTC chart is for passengers to know their ticket status. This will help them make informed decisions and speak to TTE for seat availability if the ticket status appears to be in RAC.

Conclusion

IRCTC chart preparation is an important process in finalizing the passenger details, seat allocations, and ticket status. This will give you clarity for train journeys. Providing essential information such as confirmed tickets, seat assignments, and special requests streamlines the travel experience, enhances passenger convenience, and optimizes train operations. You can book train tickets online on redRail for a seamless booking experience.

Frequently Asked Questions on IRCTC Chart Preparation

Is the IRCTC chart prepared twice?

Yes, the first IRCTC chart is prepared four hours before the scheduled departure time and the second chart 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. The second chart will be the final IRCTC train chart with details on their ticket status.

Can I book a ticket after chart preparation?

Yes, you can book train tickets after the first chart preparation that is four hours before the scheduled departure time. You can book tickets for the available seat. Note that, you may not be able to book tickets after the second and the final chart is prepared.

Can we cancel the train ticket before the chart preparation time?

Yes, you can cancel your confirmed train tickets four hours before the scheduled departure time. In the case of RAC or WL, you can cancel the ticket 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

What time is the chart prepared for early morning trains?

The IRCTC chart for early morning trains is prepared the night before. You can check the ticket status at night to make your travel plans accordingly.

Can I travel with a WL ticket?

Yes, you can travel on the train with a waiting list ticket if purchased from the ticket counter at the railway station. However, passengers with online train tickets cannot board the train with a WL ticket.

How to check the name in the train chart online?

To check your name on the IRCTC chart online, all you need to do is visit the IRCTC website and log in to the account using the IRCTC login ID and password. Click on the "Charts/Vacancy. Enter the train name or number and journey date, followed by boarding station. Then, click on the "Get Train Chart" to check the details.