Waiting List

Q: What does RLWL13 / WL10 and GNWL20 / WL15 in Indian Railway Reservation mean?

Ans: If the status is RLWL13 / WL10, then this means that you have a current remote location waiting list of 10 (the latter number). The difference between the two (13 - 10 = 3 in this case) means that 3 passengers who booked before you have already cancelled their ticket. Your ticket will get confirmed only if 10 passengers who have booked before you for the same journey happen to cancel their journey. Same is the case with GNWL20/15 except that it is general waiting list. Similarly, GNWL/AVAILABLE means that current status of your ticket is CONFIRMED because some passengers who booked before you have cancelled their tickets.


Q: One passenger gets a confirmed ticket and other passengers on the same ticket remain waitlisted (WL 1) after chart preparation. Are we allowed to board the train?

Ans: If at least one passenger’s status is confirmed (full berth) or RAC (half berth), then all passengers on this ticket are allowed to board the train even if some of them are in waitlisted status. So you can board the train in this case.


Q: If the ticket booked online on IRCTC has a WL (waiting list) status, does it get automatically cancelled if it doesn't get confirmed?

Ans: Yes, the tickets booked online by irctc website get cancelled automatically if all passengers on the ticket remain waitlisted even after preparation of chart. This is applicable for both general and tatkal quota.


Q: In Indian Railways, can I board trains like rajdhani even if my status is not confirmed?

Ans: One should not board the train if the ticket is in waiting list status for all passengers on the ticket. Normally, the TTE allows passengers with PRS waiting ticket (counter ticket in waiting list status). But in premium trains like rajdhani, shatabdi and duronto, the TTE takes strict actions against those having waitlisted ticket. If found they may be penalized and are made to deboard the train at the next station.


Q: My PNR status is showing booking status WL18, PQWL, and current status is showing 'confirmed,' but berth details are missing. Did my ticket get confirm?

Ans: Yes your ticket is confirmed as is mentioned in the current status field. Berth details will be provided to you upon chart preparation which is usually done a few hours before train depart time.


Q: Which waiting list is cleared first GNWL, TQWL, RLWL, RSWL, RQWL or PQWL? Can RLWL status tickets get confirmed easily?

Ans: GNWL stands for General Waiting List and has the highest chances of confirmation. RLWL and RSWL are given for remote stations so very few seats are allotted under them. Due to lesser seats they have lesser chances of confirmation than GNWL. PQWL is Pooled Quota Waiting List and covers those stations not covered under general or remote location quotas. PQWL and RQWL have the least chances of confirmation. TQWL or tatkal waiting list has lesser chances of confirmation than GNWL for same origin-destination pair.