RAC and Waitlists explained.

steven_ber

Yes, 1A = Executive Chair Class on Shatabdi trains.

Executive Chair Class is like Buisness Class on a plane, but although I've walked through Executive Chair Class, it's the only class I've not used on a train, so I can't say what it's like.

SM- I've no idea what SM means, but I seem to remember that ECC has 3 seats on one side of the carriage, and 2 on the other, so I wonder if the 'M' means middle (of the 3 seats), the others may be Aisle and Window seats.

Do let us know please.

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


Train information.


RAC & Waitlists explained.

machadinha

I read the whole thing from A to Z the other night Steve (over an hour or two?), it is really well-presented (and answered many questions I've had in mind, and clearly written with a view to both the better-informed as well as total newcomers to the whole subject too) and I can't imagine all the time and effort that went into it. Well done.

Yes, that's funny; I take the exact opposite view of sticky threads. I think they ought to be a collection of relevant info on a given subject, then closed, or they will just be added on to with endless queries about what's basically already covered by that sticky, thereby detracting from its purpose. Future queries that have already been covered can then simply be answered, or at least added to, by please check that thread.

That's how stickies get approached on most forums I know of too. But I can certainly see the opposite view as well.

Anyway, this is really one for the mods and admin to ponder, and sorry if even this already detracts fom the purpose of this thread, so is off-topic. Like I think Haylo said above, feel free to remove such detracting messages (or mine anyway) from this thread, so that it does stay on topic. (But back on topic then: There is no real way to keep such a thread on topic forever, or have it not fall back into repetition, with new members perhaps reading just the end and not the beginning of it and so starting the whole thing again, etc.)

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Shiver me Timbers

Steven, it might be good to link to a list of Indian holidays, here's a few I found with a quick bit of googling:

List of Indian Festivals for Year 2008

Public Holidays and Bank Holidays for India

Public holidays in India

The second one there is probably the best....

rajiv13

Dear yesthom
Blore - Chennai Shatabdi has two class only
First Class 1A Costing Rs. 965
Chair Class CC Costing Rs. 510

Last Year IR has redesignated the Coach Number system
Now following numbering system is implemented.

AC Two-tier is numbered as A1, A2, ..
AC Three-tier is numbered as B1, B2, ..
AC Chair Car is numbered as C1, C2, ....
Sleeper Class is same S1, S2, S3,...
Second Class Sitting D1, D2, D3,....
Executive Chair class is numbered as E1, E2, ..
Garib Rath Chair Car is numbered as J1, J2,....
Garib Rath AC 3-tier is numbered as G1, G2,....

1st AC Class is numbered H1, H2 {Mostly half coach is 1st AC}
First Class is number as F1, F2,...

Since your coach number is E1 it is Executive Chair Class.
Check fare also.
About SM i don't know, but my guess its a middle seat.
If it is one of these 64, 59, 54, 49, 44, 39, 34, 29, 24, 19, 14, 09, 04

steven_ber

I mostly agree with you, but we need to do something about the seemingly never ending number of new waitlist questions, and putting them in the sticky thread would help members to search for info themselves and hopefully reduce the number of new threads on the subject.

Great idea, I'll try to get the links put into the 1st post.

Nick-H

However much you explain the basics, and the reasoning, I'm afraid that there will always be a never-ending stream, and I know full well that the next time I find myself with a WL2 that has not changed for three weeks, I too will be asking.

I don't think the basic information threads should be cluttered up with that. This is one advantage of an article, in that, although there will a forum comments thread linked to it, it stands apart from the forum.

vsp27759

Dear Steven,

One final note, a very special Thank You goes to our member VSP, without his knowledge and very useful posts, I wouldn't know half of the above, so thanks for all your posts and information, you've helped indiamike members all over the world.

##I am overwhelmed with joy, and always at the service of India Mike, to the best of my extent possible.

vsp27759

Dear Steven,

RAC and waitlist positions always seem to improve, but it depends on many things

The charges for cancelling train tickets are very small, and lots of people cancel tickets,

##If there are NO cancellations, there will NOT be any improvement in your RAC Status and you may have to travel by sitting on the SLB.

##This has happened to me once, most unfortunately, when my wife was with me. I leave it to your guess the rebukes which I had to face from my wife on that fateful day. My poor wife sat throughout the night on the SLB, but allowed me to sleep partly on the same SLB!!!!

##My only caution is - don't take it for granted that your RAC would get confirmed OR your WL will move into RAC!!!

vsp27759

Dear Steven,

Then along a train's route a select few stations will have their own quota reserved on a train, these stations will be known as Remote Locations and their quota will be called a Remote location quota, these remote location quotas sometimes have a waitlist (if the quota's big enough), this waitlist would be the RLWL.

##Long back, I have explained about Remote Location Waiting List.
I repeat. The Remote Location Quota never covers the Originating Station, but it is provided at one or two or at the most three important Intermediate Stations falling in the route of the train. The beauty of this quota is - once the Confirmed Quota gets exhausted, there will be RAC and after RAC, the Remote Location Waiting List (RLWL) starts.

##For example, for 2625 there are three Remote Locations, namely, Palghat, Renigunta and Nagpur. All the stations between Palghat and Renigunta (excl.) are covered under PGT.Remote Location and so on!!!

##The final chart for Remote Location is prepared four hours before the scheduled departure of the train at the Station from where Remote Location Quota operates.

Most of the remaining seats/berths (and there normally isn't many) would be for the Pooled Quota,

##Strictly speaking, the quantum of berths under Pooled Quota is very less.

often people boarding at intermediate stations, and booking to another intermediate station,

##The Pooled Quota is maintained at Originating Station only, and hence the final charts are prepared at the Originating Station only.

##It covers the passengers travelling
(i) from Originating Station to Intermediate Station;
(ii) between two intermediate stations;
(iii) from an Intermediate Station to Terminating Station.

##However, the passengers covered under Remote Location Quota are excluded from Pooled Quota and vice-versa.

##There is one danger in Pooled Quota. Once the General Quota gets exhausted, then the passengers falling under the purview of General Quota, are allotted berths from out of Pooled Quota. I have seen end-to-end passengers against Pooled Quota!!!

when these few tickets are sold, a pooled quota waitlist (PQWL) is started.

##Correct. But, once the confirmed berths under Pooled Quota gets exhausted, the Pooled Quota Waiting List (PQWL) commences
and it will NOT be preceded by RAC, as happens in respect of GN or RL Quotas!!

##Secondly, those in PQWL will be confirmed ONLY when there are cancellations from out of earlier confirmed bookings under this Quota.

##The basic disadvantages with Pooled Quota are:

i) The number of berths in Pooled Quota are very very limited;

ii) If the situation so warrants, even these limited berths are taken away by the end-to-end passengers;

iii) The chances for confirmation are restricted to vacancies arising after cancellations, if any, within this quota only.

iv) No RAC, before the commencement of PQWL.

vsp27759

Dear Steven,

As I have stated earlier, let us NOT bother about the vacancies after preparation of Final Charts, because it 'might' confuse our Members.:-)

nadreg

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post has been promoted to the Articles section. You can read it in its entirety here:

Indian Railways RAC and Waitlists explained

__________________
In pursuit of the Only truth: I Am!

yesthom

Hi Steven,
ECC of Bangalore - Chennai Shatabdi had rows of 2 seats on either side of the carriage. And SM was an aisle seat though I still dont know what SM (Side Middle ?!) stands for. There is ample leg space & the reclining seat of the passenger in front doesnt land up on ur lap.

Attached Thumbnails

 

steven_ber

Thanks for the info and the photo.

Looking at the photo, it reminds me of what I've seen, I'm pleased to be corrected.

I did have photos of ECC but lost them.

daniel212

Hi

Can anyone let me know the chances of the confirmation of the PNR no 1339612168.

Thanks

vsp27759

Dear daniel212,

##Please look at this:
---
You Queried For
Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
7210 SHESHADRI EXP 10-11-2008 KAKINADA TOWN BANGALORE CY JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 10-11-2008 WL/AVAILABLE WL 64/WL 17
..................

##Few berths are available for end-to-end passengers. Assuming that they are NOT touched by end-to-end passengers till the time of charting, and that their number would be around 9, then you 'might' get confirmed. Otherwise, perhaps, it could be difficult.
----------------
##Now, please look at this:
--
You Queried For
Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
7210 SHESHADRI EXP 10-11-2008 VIJAYAWADA JN
BANGALORE CY JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 10-11-2008 WL 16/WL 7 WL 93/WL 44
2 11-11-2008 WL 3/WL 3 WL 75/WL 42
3 12-11-2008 WL 3/WL 2 WL 44/WL 32
4 13-11-2008 WL/AVAILABLE WL 65/WL 30
5 14-11-2008 WL 13/WL 11 WL 83/WL 51
6 15-11-2008 WL 15/WL 10 REGRET/WL 84
.....................Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
7210 SHESHADRI EXP 10-11-2008 GUDIVADA JN BANGALORE CY JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 10-11-2008 WL 13/WL 11 WL 62/WL 35
2 11-11-2008 WL 5/WL 5 WL 64/WL 52
3 12-11-2008 WL 10/WL 8 WL 58/WL 41
4 13-11-2008 WL 4/WL 4 WL 82/WL 61
5 14-11-2008 WL 8/WL 3 WL 85/WL 54
6 15-11-2008 WL 14/WL 9 WL 84/WL 73
..................