How to Change Railway Boarding Point Online? Complete Guide for IRCTC Train Tickets

Sometimes you book a train ticket from one station but later realise that it would be more convenient to board the train from another station. Maybe your travel plans have changed, you are staying in a different area, or you want to board from a station closer to your home.

The good news is that IRCTC allows passengers to change the boarding point of an eligible booked e-ticket. You do not necessarily need to cancel your ticket and book a new one just because you want to board from a different station.

However, there are some important rules and restrictions that passengers should understand before making the change. The new boarding station must be selected from the available options, and changing the boarding point can affect your right to board from the original station.

In this guide, we explain how to change the railway boarding point online, the steps on IRCTC, important rules, time limits, mobile app options, and what happens after changing your boarding station. You can also use our PNR Status Check service to check your latest train reservation details.

What Is a Boarding Point in a Train Ticket?

The boarding point is the railway station from where you are supposed to board the train according to your ticket.

For example, suppose your ticket is booked from New Delhi to Mumbai, but your selected boarding station is New Delhi. If you later decide that you want to board the same train from another eligible station on the route, you may be able to change your boarding point.

The boarding point is different from your destination. Changing the boarding point does not necessarily mean that your destination or journey route has changed.

Can You Change the Boarding Point Online?

Yes. IRCTC provides a facility to change or modify the boarding station of an eligible booked e-ticket before the journey. The option is available through IRCTC’s online ticketing system, subject to applicable railway rules and restrictions.

The IRCTC Rail Connect app also provides a Change Boarding Point option in the ticket details menu for eligible bookings.

However, this facility is not available for every type of ticket or every situation. Therefore, you should check the eligibility of your ticket before making the change.

How to Change Boarding Point Online on IRCTC?

If you have booked an eligible e-ticket online, you can follow these general steps:

1. Open the official IRCTC website or IRCTC Rail Connect app.
2. Log in to your IRCTC account.
3. Go to My Account or your booked ticket/journey section.
4. Open Booked Ticket History or the relevant ticket details.
5. Select the train ticket for which you want to change the boarding point.
6. Look for the Change Boarding Point option.
7. Select the new boarding station from the available boarding-point list.
8. Review the selected station carefully.
9. Submit the request.
10. Check the updated ticket details after the change is completed.

The exact menu layout may vary slightly depending on whether you are using the IRCTC website or mobile application. The IRCTC Rail Connect user guide also shows a Change Boarding Point option under the ticket details menu.

How to Change Boarding Point on IRCTC Rail Connect App?

If you use the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app, the process is also straightforward for eligible tickets.

1. Open the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
2. Log in to your account.
3. Open your booked ticket or upcoming journey.
4. Tap on the three-dot menu in the ticket details.
5. Select Change Boarding Point.
6. Choose the new boarding station from the available list.
7. Confirm the change.
8. Check your updated ticket details.

IRCTC’s current user guide lists Change Boarding Point as an option available from the ticket details menu, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Can You Change Boarding Point After Booking?

Yes, an eligible e-ticket can have its boarding point changed after booking. IRCTC’s guidelines specifically provide for changing the boarding station after the ticket has been booked.

However, passengers should not wait until the last moment. The applicable time limit is important, especially if the boarding station is changed close to the train’s scheduled departure.

Important 24-Hour Rule for Boarding Point Change

One of the most important rules concerns changing the boarding station close to the journey date.

According to IRCTC’s boarding-point-change guidelines, if the boarding station is changed within 24 hours of the scheduled departure of the train, no refund is normally permissible. There are exceptions in certain circumstances, such as train cancellation, non-attachment of a coach, or a train running more than three hours late, where the applicable refund rules may apply.

Because of this, it is better to change your boarding point as early as possible if you already know that you will not board from the original station.

What Happens After You Change the Boarding Point?

This is one of the most important things passengers should understand.

Once you officially change your boarding station, you lose the right to board the train from the original boarding station. The changed boarding station becomes your authorised boarding point.

For example, suppose your original boarding point is Ahmedabad and you change it to Vadodara. After the change, you should board from Vadodara rather than Ahmedabad.

IRCTC’s guidelines state that if a passenger changes the boarding station and is later found travelling without proper authority between the original and changed boarding station, the passenger may be required to pay the applicable fare along with a penalty.

Therefore, do not change your boarding point unless you are sure that you will use the new station.

Can You Change the Boarding Point More Than Once?

There are restrictions on repeated changes.

According to IRCTC’s guidelines, if the boarding station was already changed at the time of booking, the passenger can change the boarding station one more time through the applicable booking history facility.

This means passengers should select their new boarding station carefully instead of changing it casually multiple times.

Which Tickets Cannot Have the Boarding Point Changed Online?

Boarding point change is subject to ticket type and other conditions. Some important restrictions mentioned by IRCTC include:

• I-Tickets: Online boarding-point change is not allowed for I-Tickets under the cited IRCTC guideline.
• Current booking tickets: Boarding point change is not allowed for current booking tickets.
• VIKALP PNRs: Boarding point change is not allowed for PNRs with the VIKALP option under the guideline.
• Seized tickets: Boarding station change is not allowed if the ticket has been seized.

These restrictions are important because not every booked railway ticket will display the boarding-point-change option.

Can I Change Boarding Point During Ticket Booking?

Yes. IRCTC allows passengers to specify a boarding point during the booking process where the facility is available.

While booking a train ticket, you may be able to select a boarding station different from the initial station used in the search, depending on the train and available boarding points.

It is always better to select the correct boarding station while booking because it avoids the need for later modification.

Boarding Station vs From Station: Are They the Same?

Not always.

The From Station is the station from which the journey is booked or the route search begins, while the Boarding Point is the station from which the passenger intends to board.

For example, you may book a journey covering a longer route but choose an intermediate station as your boarding point, if the train and ticket rules allow it.

This is why passengers should carefully check the From, To, Boarding Point and Reserved Upto details on their ticket.

Why Should You Change the Boarding Point Instead of Missing the Train?

Suppose you have a confirmed ticket but realise that reaching your original boarding station is difficult. If another eligible boarding station is more convenient, changing the boarding point can make your journey easier.

It can be particularly useful when:

• You have moved to another city or area before the journey.
• Your travel plans have changed.
• You are staying near another station on the train’s route.
• You are travelling with family members who will join you later.
• You want to avoid travelling back to your original boarding station.

However, make the change officially through the applicable IRCTC facility. Simply deciding to board from another station without updating the ticket can create problems during the journey.

What If the Change Boarding Point Option Is Not Showing?

If you cannot see the Change Boarding Point option, your ticket may not be eligible, or the applicable time limit or another restriction may prevent the change.

First, check the following:

• Whether the ticket is an eligible e-ticket.
• Whether sufficient time remains before departure.
• Whether the PNR has a VIKALP option.
• Whether it is a current booking ticket.
• Whether the boarding point has already been changed.
• Whether you are using the correct IRCTC account used for the booking.

If you still cannot make the change, you can check IRCTC’s official support channels or contact railway/IRCTC support for assistance.

Do You Need to Cancel the Ticket to Change the Boarding Point?

No, not necessarily.

If your ticket is eligible for boarding-point modification, you can change the boarding station without cancelling the entire ticket. This is useful because cancelling a confirmed ticket and booking another one can involve availability problems and cancellation charges.

The boarding-point-change facility is specifically provided so eligible passengers can modify their boarding station without needing to make an entirely new reservation.

Check Your PNR After Changing the Boarding Point

After changing the boarding point, it is a good idea to verify your ticket details.

You can use the PNR Status Check service to review your current reservation information. Indian Railways’ PNR enquiry also displays important details such as the train number, journey date, reserved destination, boarding point, class, booking status and current status.

This extra check can help you make sure that your boarding station and other reservation details are correct before you leave for the journey.

Important Tips Before Changing Your Boarding Point

• Change the boarding point as early as possible.
• Double-check the new station before submitting the request.
• Remember that you may lose the right to board from the original station after the change.
• Save or check the updated ticket details after modification.
• Do not assume that every station on the route can be selected as a boarding point.
• If the option is unavailable, check whether your ticket falls under a restricted category.
• Check your PNR again before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my railway boarding point online?

Yes. Eligible IRCTC e-tickets can have their boarding point changed online before the journey, subject to applicable railway rules and restrictions.

How can I change my boarding point in IRCTC?

Log in to IRCTC, open your booked ticket or Booked Ticket History, select the ticket, choose Change Boarding Point, select the new eligible station and submit the request.

Can I change my boarding point after booking?

Yes. IRCTC provides a facility for changing the boarding station after an eligible e-ticket has been booked.

Can I change my boarding point within 24 hours of departure?

The applicable IRCTC guideline states that if the boarding station is changed within 24 hours of departure, no refund is normally permissible, subject to specified exceptional circumstances.

Can I board from my original station after changing the boarding point?

Generally, no. Once the boarding point has been changed, you lose the right to board from the original boarding station according to the IRCTC guideline.

Can I change my boarding point twice?

There are limits on repeated changes. If the boarding station was already changed during booking, IRCTC’s guideline allows one further change through the applicable booking history facility.

Can I change the boarding point of an I-Ticket online?

IRCTC’s boarding-point-change guideline states that online boarding-point change is not allowed for I-Tickets.

Can I change the boarding point of a current booking ticket?

No. The cited IRCTC guideline states that boarding-point change is not allowed for current booking tickets.

Will my train ticket get cancelled if I change the boarding point?

No. An eligible boarding-point modification does not mean that you are cancelling the entire ticket. The boarding station is modified while the reservation remains subject to its existing conditions.

How can I check my updated boarding point?

You can check your updated ticket details and use a PNR enquiry service such as PNR Status Check to verify the current boarding point and reservation information.

Final Words

Changing your railway boarding point can be very useful when your travel plans change after booking a train ticket. Instead of cancelling a ticket and searching for another reservation, eligible IRCTC e-ticket passengers can use the boarding-point-change facility.

The process is simple: open your booked ticket, select Change Boarding Point, choose the eligible new station and confirm the modification. But remember that important restrictions apply. In particular, changing the boarding point close to departure can affect refund eligibility, and after changing the boarding station you generally lose the right to board from the original station.

Before travelling, always verify the updated boarding point and current reservation details. A quick PNR Status Check can help you confirm your latest ticket information and avoid confusion at the railway station.