irctc Train Chart Vacancy

online train reservation chart featuring irctc chart vacancy, empty/vacant seat in train, rail chart preparation time and prepared status.

Railway reservation chart: All you need to know

Train chart: A train chart is a list containing passenger details about their seat berth allocations. This data is available with TTE (Traveling Ticket Examiner), who checks and confirms the onboarded passengers in a live-running train. Now this data is also available online through Indian Railways as an IRCTC Reservation Chart vacancy for public use. But note that this online chart would be available only after it was prepared and also would not contain passenger name details for their privacy and safety.

Reservation Chart: This is a document or digital display that shows the allocation of seats or berths to passengers with confirmed or RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets for a specific train journey. Charts are prepared in advance of the train's departure to assign seats officially.

Chart Vacancy: After the chart is prepared, if there are any seats or berths that remain unbooked or have been released due to cancellations or no-shows, these are termed as 'chart vacancies.' They represent opportunities for passengers to secure a confirmed seat even if they initially didn't have one.

IRCTC charting allocates seats to passengers before a train departure, assigning berths and coach numbers based on ticket status. Name, gender, age, and boarding station information can be checked on the physical chart pasted on train.

Charting process

The charting process for Indian Railways, orchestrated by the CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems), involves sorting through booking data to allocate seats based on several key parameters. Initially, confirmed tickets are issued, followed by RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) and waiting list tickets based on booking time, where earlier bookings receive priority. Other influencing factors include the class of travel, berth preferences (lower, middle, upper), and considerations for gender and age, with special accommodations like lower berths for senior citizens or under specific quotas (General, Ladies, Defense, Tatkal, etc.).

As the charting time approaches, which is typically four hours before the train's scheduled departure (or the night before for early morning trains), the system dynamically adjusts seat allocations, reflecting any cancellations or last-minute bookings. The final chart encompasses all passengers with confirmed or RAC statuses, providing details like names, berth numbers, age, gender, and boarding/destination stations. This chart is then made available at the station and online, ensuring passengers can confirm their travel details. The process ensures efficient seat utilization by first filling seats under special quotas and then redistributing any surplus into the general quota, taking into account the train's capacity and route specifics.

Chart vacancy app

"Check train chart vacancy online here! railway reservation chart displaying vacant seat in train, empty berth status b/w stations & irctc 2nd final chart preparation time". This online train chart vacancy app provides real-time information of availability of vacant seats in Indian Railways after the irctc rail reservation chart has been prepared. Chart vacancy train app, irctc website and playstore rail chart app, allow users to see chart vacancy in graphical representations of train coaches layouts and occupied seat statuses. To use them, we typically input the train number, travel date or departure station to receive information of seat availability, empty berth between stations and coach layout. Now you don't have to run behind the TTE for vacant seats in trains now. You can know complete information of vacant berthds, coach layout and coach position here.

Chart preparation time

Wondering when chart is prepared for a train? The IRCTC reservation chart is prepared twice for Indian Railways: the first one is generally prepared 4 hours before departure (though for early morning or night trains, it might be prepared the night before for hassle-free onboarding), and the second/final reservation chart is prepared by the zonal railway between 30 minutes and five minutes before departure. If seats are still available after the first chart vacancy is determined, you can book train tickets online, at the railway reservation counter, or with the Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) on the train.

Update Jan 2025: Railway board has been suggested by field level officers to increase the cut-off limit of five minutes for the second reservation charts to 10-15 minutes to reduce the anxiety of passengers who hold RAC or WL tickets. Sanjay Manocha, director of Passenger Marketing is looking into the matter.

• Express and Mail Express Trains: 4 to 6 hours before departure.
• Passenger Trains: 2 to 3 hours before departure.
• Superfast Trains: 8 to 10 hours before departure.
• Early Morning trains: In the night before after 8pm.
• Special Events: During peak travel seasons or special events, charts might be prepared earlier.
• 2nd chart: 2nd reservation chart sometimes called as final chart get prepared before 30mins of train departure. Alternatively for train with remote booking stations facility, it refers to the ability to book vacant seats dynamically. The passengers can check with TTE to do the same as well.

Train chart preparation

• Seat/Berth Allocation: Assigning specific seats or berths to passengers.
• Boarding Information: Providing platform numbers and coach positions.
• Passenger Details: Maintaining records of passengers and their bookings.
• Cancellation and Refund: Determining eligibility for refunds and cancellation charges.
• Train Operations: Assisting railway staff in managing train operations.

Reservation chart contains

• Train Number and Name: The unique identifier and name of the train.
• Date of Journey: The date on which the train is scheduled to depart.
• Coach Positions & Number: Coach positions in order and number of each coach. 
• Passenger Name: The full name of the passenger. 
• PNR Number: The unique 10-digit Passenger Name Record number.
• Berth/Seat Number: The specific seat or berth assigned to the passenger. 
• Boarding Station: The station from where the passenger will board the train. 
• Destination Station: The final destination of the passenger's journey.  
• Class of Travel: The class of the ticket, such as First AC, Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper, or General.
• Waiting List Status: The current status of the passenger's ticket, whether it's confirmed, RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), or on the waiting list.  

Train chart status

• Status primarily refers to the status of the chart preparation process.
• Withdrawn: The chart is not yet prepared.
• Prepared: The chart is ready, and you can check your seat/berth allocation.
• Cancelled: The train has been canceled.
• Rescheduled: The train's departure time or route has been changed.
• Chart Not Prepared: If you try to check the chart before it is prepared, you get this message.

Checking vacancy chart status

• IRCTC Website: Visit the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website and use the “irctc reservation chart vacancy” option.
• Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry: Go to the Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry website and check the “Seat Availability” section. This does not provide chart vacancy data, it provides only seat availability.
• Third-Party Apps: Several third-party apps offer train chart checking services, namely IRCTC official app, Rail Reservation Chart and Train Chart App.

What is IRCTC Chart Vacancy mean?

IRCTC chart vacancy provides class-wise and coach-wise vacant berth availability information & can be checked live here! This current reservation feature enables passengers to view the coach layout of nine classes utilised in reserved trains. A final chart is then prepared around 30 minutes before departure, and the passengers can also access details of vacant berths available, if any. Like booking airline tickets, IRCTC's website features an interactive seating layout with colour-coded designations for booked, vacant and partially booked seats. A final chart is then prepared around 30 minutes before departure, and the passengers can also access details of vacant berths available, if any.

When irctc started charts vacancy

Indian railways rolled it out with press release on 27th Feb 2019 under leadership of Piyush Goyal (former Railway minister). And irctc started rolling out this feature. Further promotion was done as public tweet by Piyush in March 2020 on X (formerly twitter).

How to check name in train chart online

To check your name on the IRCTC chart online, visit the IRCTC website and log in to your account. Click on the "Charts/Vacancy," then enter the train name or number, journey date, and boarding station. Please note that passenger names are not displayed on the publicly available online chart for privacy reasons.

1. Access the Online Chart: Check here live on Train App or open the IRCTC website or app and find the "Charts/Vacancy" section (often under booking history).
2. Enter Journey Details: Input the train number, date, and boarding station.
3. View the Chart: The chart displays coach/seat numbers and occupancy (vacant or occupied).
4. Understand Name Visibility (Online): Note that passenger names are NOT shown on the public online chart (for privacy).
5. Locate Your Name: Your name is visible on your ticket, which you can find within your IRCTC account or on the downloaded ticket.
6. Physical Chart/TTE: For specific seat information with your name, check the physical chart posted at the station or ask the TTE on the train, as this information is clearly available with them.

Booking ticket after chart preparation

You can book train tickets after the first chart preparation. After that, in a running train, you need to contact TTE to allocate any empty seats. You can travel on a WL ticket only for the physical ticket. E-tickets waiting list tickets anyway get auto-cancelled before the final chart preparation, that is, 30 minutes before departure if they don't become confirmed tickets.

• Online: Some passengers can book these vacancies online through the IRCTC website or app if the functionality is available for the particular train. This is often labeled as "Current Availability" or "Chart Vacancy."
• Onboard: If online booking isn't an option, passengers can board the train with an unreserved ticket or even without one and ask the TTE (Train Ticket Examiner) to book a vacant berth. The TTE has the authority to allocate these seats. Be careful though and be informative of railway help incase you get into undesired trouble.

How to book a chart vacancy ticket

1. Check chart vacancy: First check if vacant seat in train is available between two stations on chart vacancy.
2. Access Chart Tool: Use the IRCTC app; click on the Charts/Vacancy or Current Booking in booking areas.
3. Enter Trip Details: Enter the train name or number and journey date, followed by boarding station. Then click on the "Get Train Chart".
4. Check Availability: Look for CURR_AVBL or similar on the chart, indicating available seats.
5. Book Online (If Active): If available and showing CURR_AVBL, book online through current booking; usually works until 30 minutes before departure and for trains with second reservation chart (multiple remote booking factility), it works throughout the journey.
6. Contact TTE (If Online Fails): If online booking fails, board with a general ticket and find the TTE; they can allocate seats, if available, with required payments.
7. Note that irctc reservation charts online page does not have the option to book seat. Booking is only allowed in the mobile app.

Key Notes: Act fast, as available seats fill quickly. There are no extra charges beyond the normal fare. This option may not be available on all trains or routes. Always keep your PNR/booking information readily available. Arriving early at the station and tracking TTE announcements can also increase your chances.

Chart vacancy website not working!

The Chart Vacancy detail irctc website has been reported as not working by several users, with issues persisting for over a month. You can use alternates: TrainChart.in, irctc app and the dedicated ChartVacancy.com for this. In worst case contact TTE. Sometimes it works for few specific trains and sometimes when you have javascript disabled, then ensure JavaScript is enabled for the IRCTC site. This chart vacancy booking will open from 4 hrs before the start of the trian and close 30 minutes before the start of the train.

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