Have you booked your train ticket only to find it marked with a Waiting List status? Are you worried about the confirmation of your booking and wondering if you would be able to board the train for your journey or not?
Well, there is no need to worry, as you aren’t alone anymore. In this blog we are going to discuss in detail about the steps you should follow once you receive a Waiting List train ticket.
What is a Waiting List Train Ticket?
Waiting List is one of the Booking Status you might receive on your train ticket. A booking status can be Confirmed (CNF), Waiting List (WL), Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC), etc. Booking Status tells whether you have a seat on the train or not. If not, then what are the chances of you getting a seat.
When you book a train ticket with the Indian Railways, you are provided with a 10-digit PNR Number. This number provides us with different kinds of information such as Passenger Details, Train Details and Booking Status. In fact, Booking Status is also often called PNR Status.
Waiting List train tickets means you do not have a Confirmed ticket yet and are placed in a queue. Waiting List status is often displayed with a number, e.g., W/L 21. The number at the end, in this case 21, tells about your position in that queue.
If someone cancels their booking, a vacancy is created. The person with W/L 1 would thus be provided the seat recently vacated. The process continues, with Waiting List passengers being allotted seats one by one. The number in the queue thus, is also a slight indicator of your confirmation chances. Greater the Waiting List number the lesser are the chances of confirmation and vice versa.
Consequences of Waiting List Train Ticket
Waiting List train ticket holders aren’t allowed to board any Reserved Coaches. The recent changes in Indian Railway Rules have denied the access to Waitlisted passengers for both Online as well as Offline booking.
Earlier, Waiting List tickets booked Online were automatically cancelled and the refund was initiated. However, offline bookings via the Railway Counters for Waiting List Train Tickets weren’t automatically cancelled. You would have to go to the counter for cancellation.
However, Offline waiting list ticket holders were still allowed to board the Reserved Caches. But not anymore. All Waiting List passengers, offline or online, can only board the Unreserved coaches now. There is a fine for boarding Sleeper and AC Coaches.
Along with this, entry to even the Railway Stations is barred for Waiting List train ticket holders at 60 major locations. Passengers have to wait at the designated Waiting Areas. Entry is allowed only when the Train arrives at the platform.
Read More: New Indian Railway Rules 2025: Key Changes for Passengers
How to check the Waiting Ticket Status?
You can easily check Waiting Ticket Status using the PNR Status service available at RailRestro platform. You can access this service on their website or you can download the dedicated application available on both the Android as well as iOS.
Just follow these simple steps:
- Go to RailRestro.com or install the Application.
- From the Rail Tools drop down button select PNR Status.
- Enter your 10-digit PNR Number.
- Click on Check Status.
You can now access your live Waiting List ticket status. RailRestro platform also provides fresh and hygienic food in train, along with essential Railway services.
What to do when placed in the Waiting List?
Now that you have received a Waiting List booking train ticket, it is now time to tackle the situation and find the smartest way out of this situation.
1. Check PNR Status continuously
The first step that you should do after being Waitlisted is to check your PNR Status again and again periodically. Look if there are any changes in your Waiting List status.
If the status is updated and your waiting list decreases then there is a high probability that your ticket might get confirmed. If that is not the case, then your ticket might not get confirmed.
Passengers are advised to look for the Chart preparation time for final status check. Chart is prepared twice. First time, it is prepared 4 hours before the Time of Departure while the Second one takes place half an hour before the departure.
Most of the ticket confirmation takes place in the first Chart preparation, i.e., 4 hours before. The second chart also accommodates some of the last minute cancellations but the probability of any seat upgradation or confirmation is minimal.
Chart list is prepared the night before for early morning trains.
2. Book alternative train ticket
If the Waiting List status is not updated and the departure time is getting close, it is time for you to look at alternative trains. Before booking the alternative tickets, you must cancel your existing Waiting List ticket to claim refunds.
Tickets booked online are cancelled automatically and the refund process initiated. Offline booked tickets need to be cancelled manually at the ticket booking counter.
Please note that the Cancellation charges increase as the departure time gets closer. The minimum cancellation charge is levied 48 hours before the time of departure. Tickets cannot be cancelled once the chart is prepared.
Look for alternative trains
Now that you have dropped your hopes of ticket confirmation, it is time to look for alternative trains. To find the alternative trains you need two additional Railway services: Train Schedule and Seat Availability.
(a). Train Schedule: Train Schedule provides all the details of a train’s journey. You find the stations en route, Arrival/Departure timings and Halt Durations. Using this information you can select the train that suits your route and timings the best.
(b). Seat Availability: Now that you have selected your favorite trains it is time to check Seat Availability. Seat Availability provides you with the number of available seats on the train for booking. This step is necessary to avoid another case of Waiting List train ticket.
Use Tatkal Scheme
Tatkal Scheme is a special service by which passengers can book a Confirmed ticket in a train just one day before the departure. However, the seats available are few and end up in seconds. Hence, be on your toes while booking a Tatkal Ticket.
The booking starts one day before the departure at 10 AM for AC Coaches while for Sleeper Coaches it begins at 11 AM. Make sure that you are on time.
Pro Tip for Confirmed Tatkal Ticket Booking: Keep the passengers details filled beforehand, so that you don’t need to type all the information at the time of booking. Use UPI Payments instead of a Card Payment. UPI Payments are faster and enhance the chances of ticket confirmation.
Opt for Vikalp Scheme:
Railways has brought this scheme exclusively to ease the worries of Waiting List passengers. This service allows Waitlisted passengers to choose 7 alternate trains running on the same route as their original booking.
The alternate trains will not always be available for the exact stations. In such a situation a station near to the cluster of the Original station is provided. You could be transferred to any train running from 30 minutes to 72 hours from the time of departure of the original train.
This service does not guarantee a Confirmed ticket. But, the probability of securing a Confirmed increases significantly for the Waiting List passengers.
3. Look for another mode of travel:
If none of the above suggested options work out for you, it is better to opt for another mode of transport. In case you need to travel quickly, flights are the best option. You could also book AC Buses or cabs for your travel.
Conclusion
A Waiting List ticket doesn’t mean the end of your journey. Indian Railways provides ample of opportunity for the passengers to tackle the Waiting List status like a champ.
You can use helpful services such as PNR Status check, Train Schedule and other tools like Tatkal and Vikalp. With smart planning and timely monitoring of Seat Availability, Chart Timings and Booking status you can tackle any last minute Railways problem thrown at you.
So the next time you get a Waiting List status, don’t panic. Stay informed, stay prepared, and let RailRestro handle all your problems.
FAQs for the Waiting List Train Ticket holders
Q. Can Waiting List train ticket holders board Indian Trains?
Ans: Waiting List train ticket holders cannot Board Reserved coaches of Indian Trains. They can however board Unreserved Coaches. Earlier Waiting List tickets booked Offline were allowed to board the train. But this provision has been discontinued now.
Q. Can WL 20 be Confirmed?
Ans: Yes, WL 20 can be confirmed depending upon the Ticket Cancellations, Train Popularity and the Travel Season. If there are multiple ticket cancellations, the train isn’t highly in demand and there are no festivals or any other holiday rush, then there are high chances your ticket might get confirmed.