At present, on Sundays reservation counters used to remain open from 8am to 2pm. Now these counters will remain open in the second shift too – from 2pm to 8pm. The facility will be available from June 16.
“Although this will be on a permanent basis, initially two counters will remain open at the main station on experimental basis. Looking at the response the facility will be extended at Ajni later,” said Brijesh Dixit, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).
Dixit said that the maiden move was taken after a positive feedback from large number of commuters who prefer to be at the reservation counters on Sunday, being a public holiday. Both the counters will be available for booking tickets and cancellations too.
Here’s the confirmed update about Railway reservation counters remaining open on Sundays till 8 PM:
🕗 Reservation Counters on Sundays: Extended Hours
- Traditionally, reservation counters operate from 8 AM to 2 PM on Sundays, while the regular timings from Monday to Saturday are 8 AM to 8 PM with a short lunch break ([turn0search8]turn0search8).
- According to an official order from Central Railway’s Nagpur division (effective June 16, 2025), select stations began keeping reservation counters open from 2 PM to 8 PM on Sundays, effectively offering full-day service (8 AM to 8 PM) on Sundays as well ([turn0search4]).
- Earlier reports as far back as 2025 also mention pilot implementations—Northern Railway opened counters at major Delhi stations like New Delhi and Nizamuddin from 2 PM to 8 PM on Sundays ([turn0search12]).
✅ Summary Table
| Day | Reservation Counter Timings |
|---|---|
| Monday–Saturday | 8 AM → 8 PM (with approx. 15 min lunch) |
| Sunday (new policy) | 8 AM → 8 PM (full-day) |
| Saturday evening | No counter operation beyond 8 PM |
⚠️ Implementation Notes
- This extended Sunday timing is not yet universal across all railway zones. It began as a pilot initiative—stations like Nagpur main station and, later, Ajni in Central Railway.
- The broader adoption depends on zonal decisions and capacity availability, especially staffing and counter infrastructure.
🧠 Community Insight (From Reddit)
Regular travelers have shared that:
“General timing of Reservation Counters are 8 am to 8 pm … and 8 am to 2 pm on Sundays”
([turn0search0])
This aligns with earlier official patterns—however, some stations now offer full Sunday operations based on passenger demand and local administration decisions.
🌟 Final Takeaway
Indian Railways has progressively extended reservation counter hours on Sundays—from a half-day to a potential full-day (8 AM–8 PM) schedule—initially rolled out at selected stations like those under Central Railway. While many counters still follow the traditional Sunday timing of 8 AM–2 PM, the trend is moving toward longer availability.
If you’re planning travel on a Sunday, check with your local PRS or station authority to confirm whether extended evening service is available at your station.
Would you like help checking which stations in your area (like Ranchi or Jharkhand zone) offer this extended Sunday timing?