Travellers on Indian Railways can now change their boarding station up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure, providing greater flexibility for last-minute plan changes. This new rule was announced by the Southern Indian Railways, effective from April 1, 2026.
How the New System Works
The updated system allows passengers to modify their boarding station until the final reservation chart is prepared, typically 30 minutes before the train leaves its origin station. This ensures passengers do not lose their confirmed seats if they cannot reach the originally booked station on time.
For example, if a passenger booked from Station 1 but can only reach Station 5 in time, they can board from Station 5 instead.
Who Can Use This Facility
- Passengers with confirmed tickets or RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets are eligible.
- Waitlisted tickets are not eligible.
- Each ticket can have only one change, which must be done before the final chart is prepared.
How to Change Boarding Points
Online via IRCTC
- Log in to the IRCTC website or app.
- Navigate to My Account → My Transactions → Booked Ticket History.
- Select the ticket and click Change Boarding Point.
- Choose a preferred station from the list.
- Confirm by clicking OK.
- A confirmation pop-up and SMS will notify the passenger.
At Railway Counters
Passengers who booked at railway counters can request a change by visiting the nearest Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter.
Key Benefits
This facility:
- Reduces the stress of last-minute travel changes.
- Provides multiple boarding station options for convenience.
- Helps passengers retain confirmed seats even if they can’t reach the original station.
