In a move aimed at making train journeys more adaptable, Indian Railways has introduced a revised rule allowing passengers to alter their boarding station up to 30 minutes before a train leaves its originating station. The updated provision, announced by Southern Railway, will take effect from April 1, 2026.

Under the new system, travellers can modify their boarding point until the second and final reservation chart is generated. Traditionally, this final chart is prepared about half an hour before the train departs from its starting station. The change is expected to help passengers who, due to unexpected delays or time constraints, are unable to reach their originally selected boarding station.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier indicated that the facility would prevent passengers from forfeiting their confirmed seats simply because they missed boarding at the initial station mentioned in their ticket.

For example, if a traveller booked a ticket from Station A but can only reach Station D before the train arrives there, they may update their boarding point accordingly—provided the change is made before the final chart preparation.

The facility can be accessed both offline through the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and online via the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or mobile application.

Who Can Avail the Facility?

Only passengers holding confirmed tickets or RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) status are eligible to use this option. The boarding station can be changed only once per ticket, and the request must be submitted before the final reservation chart is prepared. Once the chart is released, no further modifications will be permitted.

Passengers with waitlisted tickets are not eligible for this service.

How to Change Boarding Point Online

Passengers who booked through IRCTC can follow these steps:

1. Log in to the IRCTC website or mobile app.
2. Navigate to “My Account” and select “Booked Ticket History.”
3. Choose the relevant ticket and click on the “Change Boarding Point” option.
4. Select the desired station from the available list.
5. Confirm the update.
6. A confirmation message will appear on screen, and an SMS alert will be sent to the registered mobile number.

Those who purchased tickets at railway reservation counters can visit a nearby PRS centre to request the modification.

The new rule is expected to ease last-minute travel stress and offer greater flexibility to railway passengers across the country.