Sometimes your travel plans shift and you need to board the train at a different station than originally booked. IRCTC allows boarding station changes online — here is the complete process.
Who Can Change Boarding Station?
Boarding station change is available for:
- E-tickets booked on IRCTC (online bookings)
- Confirmed and RAC tickets only
- Changes must be done at least 24 hours before the original departure time
Counter tickets (offline bookings) require a physical visit to a booking office to change boarding station.
Step-by-Step: How to Change Boarding Station
- Log in to irctc.co.in
- Go to My Account → Booked Ticket History
- Find your PNR and click Change Boarding Station
- Select the new boarding station from the dropdown (only stations on the route after your current boarding point are shown)
- Confirm the change — an updated e-ticket will be generated immediately
- Download the updated e-ticket with the new boarding station details
Important Rules and Restrictions
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 24 hours before original departure |
| Direction | Only forward on the route (not backwards) |
| Change limit | Only one boarding station change allowed per PNR |
| Fare change | None — original fare applies regardless of new boarding |
| Berth change | No — same berth and coach |
What Happens to Your Ticket After Changing?
The updated e-ticket shows the new boarding station. Your original destination remains unchanged. The train will still have your berth reserved from the new boarding station onwards. You do not need to re-confirm with the TTE — just board at the new station with your updated e-ticket and valid ID.
Boarding Station vs Destination Station
Only the boarding (departure) station can be changed. The destination station cannot be changed after booking — for destination changes you would need to cancel and re-book.
Get real-time PNR status and travel alerts at PNR Alert.