Another Train novice's WL Question...

Nick-H

We are trying to travel from Chennai to Trivandrum on evening of 5th, train number 2623 class 2AC. The status has remained at WL3 and WL4 (two passengers) almost since the day I booked.

Will we get there?

What to do if it doesn't go to at least RAC?

Is there any point in going to the train? trying to get an upgrade to 1AC or some 'Quota'?

What to do?

TimMakins

Don't panic - its all a game of nerves!! You should be OK to get on the train. There are many quota seats that won't be filled. Wait until 2 hours before the train and check again. As you say there are various options - see a copy of the full timetable (not Trains At A Glance) to see if there is a Tourist Quota for that train. You'll need your passport to get it. Go and be friendly with the Chief Booking Clerk - exploit your foreigner-status. Be very polite.

Tim in Ireland.

__________________
Travelling Tim - http://www.mapability.com/blogs/ My images at Lonely Planet - http://tinyurl.com/yk43ams

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

lotus blossom

visualize yourselves being comfortably seated on that whizzing train taking you to your desired destination...

__________________
Not all who wander are lost

Nick-H

...Maybe it would be easier to have a virtual visualised holiday!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice Tim, can I get my Indian citizen wife in on the tourist quota?

steven_ber

I've no idea if you're wife would be allowed to use the foreign tourist quota, (let me know if you find out please), but there are still 2 berths available in 2A on train 2623 for the 5th.

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.


Train information.


RAC & Waitlists explained.

SHIMLA

This is exactly where the TATKAL scheme is useful. You should have booked your ticket through a travel agent under TATKAL quota, three days in advance of the date of journey. It means paying more, but without worrying about whether your W/L ticket will be confirmed or not.

Now the TATKAL booking can also be done over the net, for delivery of tickets to those cities where the courier will reach in two days - a list of such cities is available on http://www.irctc.co.in

__________________
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Nick-H

Oh dear, too late for that now

vsp27759

Dear Shimla/Steven/Nick-H,
Kindly look at this:-
---
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL 4-1-2006 CHENNAI CENTRAL TRIVANDRUM CNTL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 4- 1-2006 WL 64/WL 34

2 5- 1-2006 WL 46/WL 31

3 6- 1-2006 WL 29/WL 21

4 7- 1-2006 WL 35/WL 21

5 8- 1-2006 WL 35/WL 24

6 9- 1-2006 WL 22/WL 7
============================== ===
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL 4-1-2006 CHENNAI CENTRAL TRIVANDRUM CNTL TATKAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 4- 1-2006 REGRET/WL 5

2 5- 1-2006 WL 2/WL 2

3 6- 1-2006 WL 2/WL 2

4 7- 1-2006 WL 1/WL 1

5 8- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0004

6 9- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0004
============================== =====
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL 4-1-2006 CHENNAI CENTRAL TRIVANDRUM CNTL FOREIGN_TOURIST

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 4- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0001

2 5- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

3 6- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

4 7- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

5 8- 1-2006 NOT AVAILABLE

6 9- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002
============================== ======
So, Mr.Nick, rush to station and tap the FT Quota, if possible. Forget about TQ.
(or)
Try for 'HO' Quota if you can!!!!!
========================
But what were the correct Numbers? Is it WL.3/WL.3 or WL.5/3 and so on!!!!
================
And also please see this:-
---
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL 4-1-2006 CHENNAI CENTRAL TRIVANDRUM CNTL DEFENCE

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 4- 1-2006 RT CLS SUSPNDED

2 5- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

3 6- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

4 7- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

5 8- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002

6 9- 1-2006 AVAILABLE- 0002
============================== ==
So, if the DF Quota is NOT tapped means, you have a very fair chance, atleast coming down to RAC at the time of final charting.
==============
..................and the Total Quota is:
----
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL 4-3-2006 CHENNAI CENTRAL TRIVANDRUM CNTL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 4- 3-2006 AVAILABLE- 0038

2 5- 3-2006 AVAILABLE- 0038
============================== ===
V.Srinivasa Prasad
4.1.2006/10.35 hrs.

Nick-H

Thanks VSP. When you say 'rush to station' you advise not leaving it until the deaprture day?

Game of nerves, Tim said. Yes! Indeed!

steven_ber

It was WL 46/WL 35 a couple of hours ago, though it is likely that the cancelled tickets were from the waitlist.

vsp27759

Dear Nick-H,
Your observation:-
""When you say 'rush to station' you advise not leaving it until the deaprture day?""
------
@@@I meant, you must go to the Station immediately and try your luck, but not that you should stay there till your departure. :-)
=============
@@@In any case, please provide the 'first number' also, that is, WL.____/WL.3, I suppose!!!!
============
V.Srinivasa Prasad
4.1.2006/11.25 hrs.

Nick-H

I booked on 2 Dec and we've only moved one notch in a month

The performance of those railway sites is sick. Yes, it is great that it is online at all, but surely what must be one of India's biggest businesses can scale the requirements better.

Perhaps they just listened to the MS salesman! Anyone know what software/platform they do use?

Nick-H

Oh, and I don't have my passport until later today: it is being looked at by the visa people

byronic

When booking through a travel agent will they know what you are talking about when asking for the "TATKAL scheme" tickets? I'm leaving for the South in a week and taking a lot of trains (booking for the first time by myself). This is gonna be a hella learning experience

Good luck on you WL tickets nick, I'm saying a mantra that you get them.

__________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronic501/

byronic

Om ... "nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets - nick get tickets"

If 100 IMers chant that at the same time, your tickets are assured.