This is an important warning for millions of passengers traveling by Indian Railways. Many of us have a habit of trying to reach the next station by taxi or other means if we miss our boarding station (where we were supposed to board the train). We assume that our seat will remain reserved for us for at least the next one or two stations. However, the railways have now tightened this system.

TTE will no longer wait at the next station

Previously, there was an unwritten rule or understanding that the TTE (Ticket Examiner) would wait for the passenger for at least one or two major stations. But now, in the era of Digital India, everything has changed. TTEs now have 'Handheld Terminal' (HHT) devices. As soon as the train departs from your boarding station and you are not found in your seat, the TTE immediately marks you as 'absent' on their device.

As soon as you are marked absent in the system, your seat appears vacant on the railway server. This seat is then immediately allotted to another passenger from the 'current booking' or 'waiting list'. This means that by the time you rush to catch the train at the next station, your seat will already have been assigned to someone else.

Digital monitoring has increased strictness

Earlier, TTEs marked attendance on paper charts, giving passengers a chance to catch the train at the next station. Now everything is updated online in real-time. As soon as the TTE presses the button, your seat is gone. This means that you cannot get your seat back even by pleading with the TTE because it has officially been sold to someone else.

Keep these things in mind

If you find yourself in such a situation, keep these important points in mind:

Changing your boarding point: If you know that you will not be able to board the train from your original station, change your boarding point online at least 24 hours before your journey. This will secure your seat.

Time Management: Try to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your train's scheduled departure time. The digital system leaves no room for delays.

Connecting Trains: If you fear missing your connecting train due to a delay in your first train, immediately inform the railway authorities or claim a refund as per the rules.

This move by the railways aims to better manage vacant seats on trains and provide relief to passengers on the waiting list. However, this rule can prove quite strict for the average passenger. Therefore, the next time you book a railway ticket, pay close attention to the time. Even a slight delay can not only cause you to miss your train but also result in the cancellation of your confirmed seat.