Indian Railway Waiting List
Doodlebrary
- In the Indian Railway system, a waiting list is a system that allows passengers to book tickets for a train even if there are no available confirmed seats or berths.
- Passengers can book tickets under the waiting list category in the hope that they will eventually get a confirmed seat if there are cancellations or additional coaches are attached to the train.
- Here’s how the waiting list system works in Indian Railways:
- Waitlist (WL): When you book a ticket and all the confirmed seats are already occupied, you are assigned a waitlist number. This number indicates your position on the waiting list. For example, if you have a WL10, it means you are 10th on the waiting list for that particular train.
- Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC): RAC is a better option than a pure waitlist. If your ticket is confirmed as RAC, it means you are entitled to board the train but only get a sitting berth initially. If a confirmed passenger cancels their ticket, you may get a full berth.
- CNF (Confirmed): When passengers with confirmed tickets cancel their reservations, the waitlisted passengers move up the waiting list. When your ticket gets confirmed, it will be mentioned as “CNF.”
- RLWL, PQWL, GNWL: There are different types of waiting lists, including Remote Location Waitlist (RLWL), Pooled Quota Waitlist (PQWL), and General Waitlist (GNWL). The chances of confirmation may vary depending on the type of waiting list and the route of the train.
- Tatkal and Premium Tatkal: Passengers can also book Tatkal tickets, which are for immediate travel. Tatkal bookings open a day in advance and have a separate waiting list. Premium Tatkal is a higher-priced option for last-minute travelers.
- Chart Preparation: The final status of a ticket (whether it’s confirmed, RAC, or remains on the waiting list) is determined during chart preparation, which typically occurs a few hours before the train’s departure. Passengers can check their PNR status to know if their ticket has been confirmed.
- Keep in mind that the chances of your waiting list ticket getting confirmed depend on various factors, including the route, class of travel, and the number of cancellations.
- If your ticket remains on the waiting list, you can check for updates on the status as the travel date approaches.
- In some cases, you may get a confirmed seat, but there are no guarantees, especially during peak travel seasons.
