New Delhi: Train passengers with reserved tickets must stay alert. In a major procedural change, Indian Railways has ended the long-standing practice of allowing a two-station grace period for passengers who fail to board from their designated station.
Under the new rule, if a traveler does not board the train at the selected boarding point, the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) can reassign the seat or berth to another passenger within minutes. The earlier system—where TTEs would wait until the next two stations before reallocating the seat—has now been discontinued. Even if a passenger intends to board at the following station, the seat is no longer guaranteed.
The shift has been made possible through upgraded digital monitoring. TTEs now use Hand Held Terminal (HHT) devices to instantly mark a passenger as “not boarded.” Once recorded, the vacant seat is immediately allotted to passengers on the waiting list or those holding RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) status. An SMS alert will be sent to the registered mobile number of the original ticket holder once the seat is reassigned.
Passengers are strongly advised to provide their own mobile number while booking tickets. If tickets are booked using someone else’s number—common in cases of travel agents—the SMS notification may not reach the actual traveler.
To avoid losing a confirmed seat, passengers must board the train from the station mentioned on the ticket. If there is a need to change the boarding point, it should be updated at least 24 hours before departure through the official website or mobile app of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
