Need to know about WL tickets...

tboxcar

Sorry to sound like a broken record, but I am 'confused' I have attempted to book a inside upper sleep 2A and I get this WL 10/WL 8 for a train scheduled on June 15th from Kolkata to Varanasi. I assume this means I'm on some sort of waitlist, I will continue to search the forum for answers, but time is ticking until I leave my country. Suggestions or ideas?

Baba

If you tell them the train, someone here may know the quota and give you a realistic view of your chances, but you could also book a train to Mughal Serai, which is very near to Varanasi. For June 15 there are quite a few trains which show availability for 2A.

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Baba

tboxcar

I'm trying for train # 3005 the Amristar Mail from Kolkata to Varanasi on June 15th.

I guess I'm a little confused with the waitlist system and the RAC and all the stuff. What is the normal process with waitlist? Should I go ahead and make sure I have 'one confirmed' ticket still. How easy are refunds with the rail system.

Sorry, I am a 'newbie' here.

mousourik

U'll get RAC ticket on 3009 Doon Ex. RAC means at least one seat will be alotted to u and u'll be allowed to board the train, which u can't with WL ticket. As app. 20 days are left, there is a good chance of this RAC being converted to a confirmed one and then u'll be alotted a berth.

If u've booked ur ticket with credit/debt card thru irctc.co.in, the money refund doesn't take more than a couple of days - it will be deposited in ur account. u won't get any cash refund.

Happy holidaying.

tboxcar

OK, so I went ahead and succesfully booked (at least I got a PNR# and all that) for the Amristar Mail on June 15th.

This is where my request stands. W/L 1 RAC 17

So, to explain this, I am number one on waitlist and 17 in Reservations to be Cancelled, can you explain a bit more please? Is there a reasonable chance of me getting on this train and having a sleeping berth?

steven_ber

You're already on the train.

W/L 1 RAC 17 means that you're the first person to join the waitlist (W/L 1), but there have already been cancellations and you are now RAC 17. (what class?)

RAC = Reserved against cancellation, this gives you a seat rather than a berth.

RAC allows the railways to have extra people on board to cover last minute cancellations and people who just don't turn up for their train.

One berth is left as seats, you sit on one of these seats until the TTE finds you a berth.

You will have a confirmed berth by June 15th, if not, the TTE has a few berths to play with (un-used quotas and others), so you'll be given a confirmed berth.

I've always got a confirmed berth whan I've had an RAC ticket, and the only time I've had to travel in an RAC seat is when I was W/L 160ish with about 3 days to go, I ended up RAC, but I just slept on the floor and let the other RAC passenger sleep in the berth. (Sleeper Class)

You find out the carriage and berth number when the charts are prepared (about 2-6 hours before departure), you'll find the final chart on platform display boards and next to the entrance doors of each carriage, the TTE will also have a full copy of the reservation chart.

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tboxcar

This whole reservation thing is a 'trip' but as you have explained better, it's starting to make sense, I was India last in '89, not sure how we did it, but we got tickets then by waiting in some old station in Delhi.

Anyway, to the subject at hand. I booked for 3A (originally 2A but it seemed to hard to get), so with all this said, I should not worry and assume I will get a berth?

Finally is there any way of knowing before the list is made up that day? In other words like airlines can you go 'online' and see where you stand in the waitlist or RAC.

Thanks again, you are the first person to really explain things here to me in 'laymens' terms.

steven_ber

You can check if your WL/RAC position has improved by using the following website.

PNR enquiry.

The first number (W/L 1) will stay the same, you will always have been the first person to join the waitlist in that class/train, only the 2nd number will change.

CNF = Confirmed berth.

tboxcar

OK, makes sense, so if you were my situation, I should not be worried and should not go ahead and 'book another train' which I can confirm? and then go ahead and see how they play out and cancel one of them? Please your thoughts again

mousourik

Charts will be perpared 4 hours before the time of journey. In case of morning trains, charts are prepared the previous night.

If the status is still RAC, tte will find a berth, but he'll oblige and may ask for some money later for the service provided (not more than Rs. 300/= generally). Don't ask for any receipt, this is his extra income!

tboxcar

OK, this train leave at around 19:00 hours or so, so it should have the chart ready by afternoon, I will arrive early!

steven_ber

I'd be confident of getting a confirmed berth with that RAC ticket, and without paying a bribe.

tboxcar

Thanks Steve, although I'm prepared to pay off whomever to a get a seat, I'd rather not. I was more interested in the whether or not I should try to buy another ticket, which I was confirmed on?

mousourik

Yes, RAC 17 should be confirmed.

tboxcar

Thank you Mousourik, I will sleep better tonight.

Another question, I can probably find in by searching this forum, but I leave California soon. Do they provide 'basic bedding'? Or should I bring a sheet/sarong? I assume the A/C gets pretty cold at night?

How about food, just buy it on the train?

Thanks once again