RAC and Waitlists explained.

Thanks, Dave. I read the thread you had suggested. Now, I know how foreigners book tickets.

i'm a bit confused - does this imply that i would be upgraded from a 'Confirmed' 3A berth to an RAC in 2A???

That sentence on the website is just poorly worded. Upgradations will only occur if there are vacancies in the higher class at the time of chart preparation so there is no question of being 'upgraded' to an RAC berth.

The article on upgradation began with the following sentence:

"In a major move that is expected not only to benefit waitlisted passengers but also benefit the railways in terms of filling up vacant accommodation in various trains, the railways have introduced a scheme, on an experimental basis, to upgrade full fare paying waiting list passengers to the next higher class against the available vacant accommodation, with effect from 26th January 2006."

Now, look at the following sentences:

"Only waitlisted passengers will be provided confirmed seats. The remaining vacant berths will be transferred for booking on the current counters as per the existing practice. Thus, if there is no waiting list on a train, no upgradation will take place."

On reading the sentences, especially those in bold, I thought only waitlisted passengers were eligible for a free upgradation.

I wrote a mail to IRCTC Customer Care asking what is auto-upgradation. Below is their reply:

"Please note that the Railways plans to upgrade reserved passengers to the higher classes (if there are vacant berth) through a computerized random selection process undertaken. We would like to pass one more information that if you have opted auto up gradation while booking then the Railways plans to upgrade reserved passengers to the higher classes (if there are vacant berth) through a computerized random selection process."

This is not a question! I'd just like to share a story of success in using this technique (which I've seen called into question at the time I tried to use it - err, somewhere...).

End November 2011 I booked a WL 2AC ticket position 10 or so from Ahmedabad to Madgaon to get home for Xmas. Trip on the 17.Dec. figuring I had a chance with WL10. I was in Jaisalmer a week (wish I'd known about the a-bomb test at Phalodi BEFOREhand) or so later and could see no movement in the list.

So I went to the Computer Counter there and tried what I'd read about in the main sticky article here - http://www.indiamike.com/india-artic...ays-waitlists/.

I booked a WL ticket also around 10 or from the first station BEFORE Ahmedabad for this train with a different quota - I researched this station on irctc/erail.in beforehand (can't remember the name now - long distance train to Kerala). I was sceptical, but you really can buy such a ticket, saying you will get on at a later stop. Well it's right there as an option on the forms you fill out,(I don't believe you can get these tickets online). With the time invested in research and the queuing at the station I wondered if this would really stand a chance of working.

On night of 16th I boarded the night train from Udaipur to Ahmedabad. Both onward trains from Ahmedabad were still in WL before chart preparation. The original ticket was now WL6 and the other still about WL10.

When I checked the PNRs next morning at Ahmedabad, 1st I saw the original direct booking was stuck on WL2. My heart sank, Ahmedabad is a long way from Margao.

But to my surprise, the other ticket was Confirmed!
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As a side note, I only made it to Surat in the end, I came down with Kidney stones 3hrs into the journey! VERY scarey/painful. Thanks to the TT for getting a doctor onboard and to the Stationmaster and staff at Surat for getting me safely to the Smt.R.B. Shah Mahavir Super-speciality Hospital! I'm fine now.

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As another side note, I eventually got the "same" train from Surat to Madgaon on 25 Dec. - 2nd sitting - and it was pretty much empty all the way down (thankfully and quite a surprise - 2 Sitting is not usually like this). I got a great night's sleep. 2AC and 3AC etc. were packed.

Hi,

Till what PQWL number can we expect that we can get confirm seat after chart preparation in Mangala Express from Mangalore to New Delhi. What are the chances of the following PNR gets confirmed:
4342216823. Please help.

there is a separate thread in IR where you can get a better response.

Some of you are able to say some quota as General quota, pooled quota, remote quota and roadside quota. I find it difficult to identify. Please convey how to identify them in train.

Once i tried to cancel my confirmed ticket that I had purchased online. I could see the 'cancel' ticket option on irctc.
Later when I tried to cancel a friend's ticket that I had bought online at irctc, I found out how to do so. My friend's train was later so she just hired a car so that she could reach the airport on time. Since there was no 'cancel' option on irctc, I filed a TDR - it took over a month but I did finally get my money back!

Later I read that it was possible to 'some' refund for confirmed tickets even if the train has left the station.

Thought I would share it.

Just thought you needed thanking for this v well put together post...The Indian trains can be a tad confusing at the best of times..Although saying that I've never had any problems, and most of the time have booked tickets one or 2 days before..don't quote me on that..I'm probably just lucky! Once again thanks

what does it mean by this RAC7/RAC7 in seat availability.

Do you mean why are there 2 x RAC7?

Or do you want to know what RAC7 means.

(both explained fully in the RAC & Waitlist article.)

If you tell us the train, the class, and between what stations you'll be using the train, then we can tell you if RAC7 is likely to get confirmed.

this means your position in the queue is RAC7 & current status is also RAC7 - this indicates that none of the fellows who booked ahead of you have yet cancelled their tickets.

100 Confirmed Berths available for booking (ARP Availability)
RAC Limit is 8-12 (per coach) (Assuming the class is Sleeper) => Total Limit is 144 (Considering 12 Coaches having 12 RAC each)

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All the Confirmed berth gets booked - Availability Status moves into RAC => 6 Passengers have been booked under RAC Status => Current Status is RAC 7 => Meaning the next person in line to book a ticket will have his booking status as RAC 7 => RAC Booking will continue till the status moves to RAC 144 after which Waitlist will commence.

Thank you very much for this info! I was specifically wondering if there is a danger of only some passengers getting upgraded, and you had an answer for it.