New rules, faster bookings, less stress: The three big changes announced by the Indian Railways are all set to immensely help the crores of passengers.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the three major reforms announced by Indian Railways regarding its ticketing system, and what they mean for passengers:

Advance Reservation Chart Preparation: 8 Hours Before Departure

Reservation charts are typically prepared 4 hours before train departure. This late finalization leaves passengers, especially those waitlisted, in uncertainty about their ticket status until the last moment.

Now, charts will be prepared 8 hours in advance. For early morning trains (before 2 PM), charts will be made by 9 PM the previous day.

Passenger Benefits:

Early clarity on whether waitlisted tickets have been confirmed.
Travelers from distant or remote locations get ample time to plan.
Helps make alternate travel planning if a ticket remains unconfirmed.
Reduces last-minute anxiety, enhancing the overall journey experience.

Verified Users Only for Tatkal Booking (Effective July 1, 2025)

What’s Changing:

Tatkal ticket booking will be restricted to verified users.
Verification will be via OTP-based authentication.

Identity Verification Process:

Users must authenticate using Aadhaar, or other government-issued IDs uploaded on DigiLocker.

Why This Matters:

Cracks down on misuse by bots and agents.
Ensures genuine passengers get fair access to last-minute tickets.
Boosts trust in the Tatkal system, which is often criticized for being gamed.

Next-Gen Passenger Reservation System (By December 2025)

What’s Coming:

A comprehensive upgrade of the Passenger Reservation System (PRS).
Developed by CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems).

Technical Upgrades:

Booking capacity to jump from 32,000 to 150,000 tickets per minute.
Enquiry system upgraded to handle 4 million queries per minute (from 400,000).
User interface revamp with multilingual support.

Introduction of smart features:

Seat selection preferences.
Fare calendars.
Facilities for Divyangjan, students, and patients.

Impact on Passengers:

Faster bookings, even during peak hours and festivals.
Reduced website crashes and smoother IRCTC app experience.
More inclusive access with support for diverse user groups.
Intuitive experience leading to better trip planning and customization.