Chart preparation: the deadline that decides everything
The reservation chart is the moment your status is finalised for the originating station. Everything about prediction is really about what will happen at that deadline.
When the chart is prepared
The first reservation chart is typically prepared a few hours before the train departs from its originating station — commonly around four hours ahead, and earlier for very early-morning departures. A second chart may follow later for remaining seats.
Why it matters for your decision
Before the chart, statuses move as people book and cancel. After the chart, your originating-station status is settled: confirmed, RAC, or waitlisted. A waitlisted ticket that doesn't clear is generally not valid for boarding in reserved coaches, and online-booked waitlisted tickets are usually cancelled and refunded automatically.
Related reading
How railway waitlists actually clear
GNWL, RLWL, PQWL and TQWL don't behave the same way. Understanding which list you're on tells you more about your chances than the number itself.
RAC, explained: you're closer than you think
Reservation Against Cancellation means you can board and travel — you just start with a shared berth. Here's what RAC really means and how it usually resolves.