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The ABCs of Indian Railway Reservation System: Explaining CNF, RAC, WL, GNWL, PQWL, RLWL and Beyond

Book your tickets confidently by learning about the various Indian Railways verbiage like WL, RAC, GNWL, RLWL and other statuses.

Table of Contents:

  • Where to book your train tickets from?
  • What Is a PNR and Why Is It Important?
  • WL (Waitlist Status): What It Means for You
  • CNF (Confirmed Status): The Green Light for Your Journey
  • RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation): Half a Seat, Half a Chance
  • GNWL (General Waiting List): Your Best Bet for a Confirmed Ticket
  • RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List): Low Chances but Possible
  • PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List): For Those Shorter Journeys
  • TQWL (Tatkal Quota Waiting List): Last-Minute but Risky
  • GNWL/AVAILABLE: The Best Possible News for Waiting Passengers
  • Wrapping It Up

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The Indian Railways is the lifeline of this nation, weaving a network of rails connecting the remotest of towns with each other. Connecting India since 1853, today, the Indian Railways has grown into one of the world’s largest railway networks, spanning over 67,000 kilometers and transporting more than 23 million passengers daily. With over 13,000 passenger, commercial, and local trains crisscrossing across the country, Indian Railways doesn’t just move people—it moves India! 

Since the beginning, Indian Railways has been an affordable and efficient travel solution for millions. Similarly, its reservation system has become an essential part of its operation. However, through the years of its evolution and expansion, there is a particular verbiage that can be tricky to understand. So, with this blog, we try to explain and help you understand how this system can make your train ticket booking experience smoother, and you’ll be better equipped to navigate the various types of booking statuses.

But before we delve deep into explaining the various acronyms, here’s what you need to know about booking your train tickets. 

If you are you planning to use Indian Railways to travel, then make sure to plan in advance. Indian Railways allows passengers to book their tickets 120 days before their journey date. This window, known as the Advance Reservation Period (ARP), is designed to provide flexibility for travelers planning trips far in advance. But with millions of travelers and limited seats on every train, it’s not uncommon for tickets to get waitlisted. This gives rise to various statuses in the Indian Railway reservation system, which we will explore below.

Where to book your train tickets from?

There are multiple online portals where you can book your train tickets. However, we suggest booking your train tickets from Adani One. Why? When it comes to booking your train tickets online, Adani One provides savings like no other online platform. Adani One has offers running from time to time to make your rain ticket booking rewarding. Moreover, if you have an Adani One ICICI Bank Credit Card, you can do additional savings of 3% on every transaction. 

What Is a PNR and Why Is It Important?

Every time you book a train ticket, you’re assigned a PNR or Passenger Name Record. This unique 10-digit number is your key to tracking your booking status and train journey. It holds vital information like your train details, journey date, ticket status, and seat/berth allocation. You can check your PNR status online to know if your ticket is confirmed, waitlisted, or falls under one of the other categories we’ll explain below. Your PNR helps you stay updated on whether you’ll get a seat on the train or if you should explore other travel options.

WL (Waitlist Status): What It Means for You

WL stands for Waiting List. When your ticket falls under this status, it means you don’t have a confirmed seat yet. Your position on the waitlist depends on cancellations made by other passengers. For instance, if your ticket shows WL 10/WL 9, you started with the 10th position on the waitlist, but by the time you checked, you’ve moved up to 9th. The smaller your number, the higher the chances your ticket gets confirmed before the train departs. Regularly checking your   PNR status is essential if your ticket is waitlisted, as last-minute cancellations can sometimes turn your WL ticket into a confirmed one.

CNF (Confirmed Status): The Green Light for Your Journey

Once a waitlisted ticket is confirmed, it changes to CNF (Confirmed). This means you now have a berth or seat assigned to you, and your travel is guaranteed. CNF tickets typically show up as "GNWL/AVAILABLE" if you were on the   General Waiting List  (GNWL) and managed to secure a confirmed seat. Congratulations, you’re all set to board!

RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation): Half a Seat, Half a Chance

If your ticket status is RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), you can board the train, but your seat might be shared with another passenger. All RAC tickets offer side-lower berths, which are split between two passengers until one of them gets upgraded to a full berth if there are last-minute cancellations. Although there’s a high chance of your RAC ticket becoming fully confirmed, you should keep an eye on your   PNR status to know for sure.

GNWL (General Waiting List): Your Best Bet for a Confirmed Ticket

If you’ve booked your ticket from the train’s starting station or the first few stops, you’re likely on the   General Waiting List   (GNWL). This is the most common waiting list category, with the highest chance of getting confirmed. Why? Because most cancellations happen from the origin station, GNWL tickets are given priority in the confirmation process. As you check your train ticket booking and   PNR status, you’ll see a number like WL10/WL5, indicating that your waitlist position is improving.

RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List): Low Chances but Possible

When you book a ticket from a station that’s neither the origin nor the destination but somewhere in between, your status will fall under RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List). The confirmation probability for RLWL tickets is generally low since they depend on cancellations from passengers boarding at major stops between the origin and destination. If you’re on an RLWL ticket, check your   PNR status for updates, but be prepared with a backup travel plan.

PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List): For Those Shorter Journeys

PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List) is issued to passengers who book tickets for travel between smaller stations, not the train’s origin or final destination. PQWL status tends to have fewer chances of confirmation compared to GNWL, but it’s still possible if cancellations occur. Keep an eye on your   PNR status to see if you move up the list.

TQWL (Tatkal Quota Waiting List): Last-Minute but Risky

If you’re booking a last-minute ticket through the Tatkal quota and don’t get a confirmed seat, your status may show TQWL (Tatkal Quota Waiting List). The chances of confirmation here are slim, as priority is given to GNWL tickets during the final chart preparation. But there’s still hope—check your train running status to see if your ticket gets confirmed closer to the journey date. Also, Premium Tatkal is an option, though it tends to be pricier.

GNWL/AVAILABLE: The Best Possible News for Waiting Passengers

When booking a ticket, seeing the GNWL/AVAILABLE   status is ideal for any passenger. It means that your seat is available, and your travel is confirmed without worrying about waitlists. If you spot this while checking seat availability, completing the booking immediately is your cue.

When you have a solid understanding of the different types of ticket statuses, you will surely have a smoother and stress-free journey with the Indian Railways. The key is to stay informed by regularly checking your   PNR status and keeping an eye on your train running status to ensure everything goes as planned. Whether you’re booking 120 days in advance or trying your luck with a Tatkal ticket, knowing the ins and outs of these statuses can help you make smarter travel choices.

Wrapping It Up

Indian Railways operates a vast network deeply ingrained in millions' everyday lives. From the ease of train ticket booking  120 days in advance to the complexities of navigating the waitlist, Indian Railways offers a flexible system designed to accommodate the masses. Now that you know the difference between WL, RAC, GNWL, RLWL, and other statuses, you can confidently book your tickets. 

Happy traveling!

Disclaimer

The Adani One expressly disclaims all liability, direct and indirect, in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this Blog. The Blog is an opinion of the contributor based on the collation of data from various sources and is provided only for information purpose. Adani One does not canvass, advertise, solicit, invite or induct for any product, merchandise, information, brand or any other materials mentioned in the Blog, nor does it obtain any monetary benefit from the same. Reader is advised to read and apply his/her intellect and discretion in this regard. Any Intellectual Property mentioned in this blog belongs to the rightful owner. We do not intent to claim any interest over the same.