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It must have happened to every passenger traveling by train at some point of time that while booking a ticket, he sees WL 15, WL 25 or RAC 40 written on the screen. On seeing this, the first and natural question that comes to mind is – “Will my ticket be confirmed till the chart is prepared or not?”
Most of the misconceptions among the general public regarding the reservation system of Indian Railways start from here. Many people assume that if the waiting number is small (like 10 or 15), then the ticket will definitely be confirmed. Whereas the reality is that the railway ticketing system is not just a game of numbers but of different quotes and quotas. Codes like GNWL, RLWL, PQWL and RAC decide whether you will get the full seat or you will have to change your travel plans. Let us understand in very simple language the 5 biggest myths related to the waiting list of Railways and their truth.
Myth 1: If the waiting list (WL) is 25, the ticket will definitely be confirmed
This is the biggest misconception spread among train passengers. People think that just 25 waiting list will be cleared easily. But the reality is that just by looking at the numbers no one can guarantee whether you will get a seat or not. It entirely depends on which ‘waiting type’ (quota) your ticket belongs to. For example, if your ticket is GNWL 25, it has the highest chances of being confirmed. But if the same number is RLWL 25 or PQWL 25, then the chances of it getting confirmed are extremely less. That means the meaning of number 25 is not the same in every train and every quota.
Myth 2: All waiting tickets are the same
Often people weigh every waiting ticket in the same scale, whereas Railways issues many different types of waiting lists according to the convenience of passengers and stations:
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GNWL (General Waiting List): This is the most common and reliable waiting list. It is available to those passengers who start their journey from the originating station of the train or from stations near it. This list has the highest chances of being cleared.
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RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List): This ticket is available to those passengers who start their journey from a big or important station (remote location) falling between the starting and ending station of the train. Seats in this quota are limited, hence it gets confirmed at a much slower pace than GNWL.
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PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List): This ticket is given to passengers traveling at small stations or on a particular route. In this, very few seats are reserved in the entire train, so if you have got waiting list in this, then the chances of it getting confirmed are negligible.
Direct difference between GNWL, RLWL, PQWL and RAC
You can understand these technical codes of train tickets very easily from the table given below:
Myth 3: RAC is also a kind of waiting ticket
This notion is completely wrong. RAC means Reservation Against Cancellation It clearly means that your journey is completely safe and fixed. While waitlisted passengers are not allowed to board the train compartment (especially in case of online e-tickets), passengers with RAC tickets can travel in the train with utmost ease. Yes, in this you do not get a full berth (seat) for sleeping, but a berth on the side lower is divided between two RAC ticket holders to sit. If a passenger with a confirmed ticket does not turn up during the journey, then the TTE first allots the entire seat to the person with RAC.
Myth 4: There is no change in the position of seats after the train chart is prepared
Many passengers believe that when the final chart is prepared a few hours before the departure of the train, then the availability of seats stops. But the reality is a little different. The equations of seats may change even after the chart is prepared. Many times VIP quota (HO Quota) seats remain vacant, some passengers cancel their journey at the last moment, or some people are not able to reach the station at the time of train departure (No-Show Passengers). In such a situation, the TTE present inside the train can allot the vacant seats to the passengers of RAC or the next station through his handheld terminal (HHT) device. However, for those with online waiting tickets, chart preparation is the final decision as after that their tickets get automatically cancelled.
Myth 5: If there is waiting list in Tatkal ticket, it is impossible to get a seat
Generally people assume that getting waiting list (CKWL) in Tatkal quota means that now the chance to travel is over. But the mathematics of Tatkal also works like normal tickets. People taking Tatkal tickets also sometimes suddenly change their plans and get their tickets cancelled. Since there is little or no refund available on cancellation of Tatkal tickets, people still cancel it in emergency situations. The instant weighting is also cleared quickly by the time the chart is created and there is always a possibility of it being converted directly to RAC.
When is a chart made and why is it necessary?
According to the rules of Indian Railways, before any train departs from its scheduled time, about 4 hours ago Its first and last chart is prepared. If the train is scheduled to depart early in the morning, its chart is prepared the night before. This is the time when the computer system automatically decides which passenger’s waiting list has been cleared, who has got RAC and which berth has been allotted in which coach.
