Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 3: Indian Railways has introduced new rules allowing passengers greater flexibility in changing their boarding station. Effective from April 1, 2026, travellers can now modify their boarding point up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of their train.
Earlier, passengers were required to submit boarding point change requests well in advance. The updated system allows changes online via the IRCTC app or website, as well as offline at passenger reservation counters, making last-minute adjustments much easier.
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According to a social media post from Southern Railways on X (formerly Twitter), “You can now change your boarding point up to 30 minutes before your train departs — a brand new facility effective from 1st April 2026” — @GMSRailway.
Previously, boarding point modifications had to be submitted at least 24 hours before the train’s departure and were updated only in the first reservation chart, prepared about four hours before the train left its originating station.
Under the new system, changes are now reflected in the second reservation chart, offering greater convenience to passengers.
How to change boarding point
Passengers can modify their boarding station through the IRCTC app or website by logging in with their username and password and navigating to My Account → My Transactions → Booked Ticket History.
After selecting the relevant ticket, they must click on the Change Boarding Point option. A pop-up window will display all stations along the train route, from which the desired boarding point can be selected and confirmed.
Upon successful modification, a confirmation message will be displayed, and an SMS alert will be sent to the registered mobile number.
Railway cancellation rules revised in phases
Indian Railways is implementing revised cancellation and refund norms in phases between April 1 and April 15, 2026.
Under the updated system, the refund window for maximum refund has been extended from 48 hours to 72 hours for tickets cancelled more than 72 hours before departure.
Passengers cancelling their tickets between 24 and 72 hours before departure will now face a 25% deduction in fare, replacing the earlier 12 to 48-hour window.
Cancellations made between 8 and 24 hours before departure will attract a 50% deduction. No refund will be issued if tickets are cancelled less than 8 hours before departure, compared to the earlier rule where no refund was granted for cancellations made less than 4 hours before departure or after chart preparation.
These changes aim to offer passengers greater flexibility and make last-minute travel adjustments easier while streamlining refund timelines.