RAC and Waitlists explained.

tywocky

Thank you Steve

I read it all late at night.My head was spinning too.
I should have read this before booking my train on cleartrip website. I have a question despite your detailed explanation.
I am travelling from Agra to Amritsar on Chattisgarh express on 5th October and I have been waitlisted RLWL 2 /3 and 4 for the three of us(mother and two daughters). I asked for foreign tourist quota which I wish I hadn't after reading your explanation. I was told to book 3tier AC. I cannot afford to get stuck in Agra . Is there anyway I could contact Indian railway to get them to transfer booking to general quota and confirm my booking I am only in India for 2 weeks and have to then fly to Cochin after 3 days.

Tywocky

machadinha

I don't think your waitlist status will be dependent on you having asked for the tourist quota. In fact the tourist quota cannot be booked from abroad anyway I don't think.

In other words, I think you are already on the general quota. The tourist quota would just ride along on the general quota, as far as I know. It wouldn't lessen your chances in case it became booked out, it works the other way around rather (as it would with any of these special quotas, again, as far as I know. They can give you an edge over the general quota; it doesn't mean that if they book out, you won't be eligible for the latter.)

(I think it's understandably hard for many to conceive of why the general quota, which really just means you get a regular ticket, would even be called so. It's because bookable seats get allotted over stations according to their importance and such; hence, the "quota." So you may also stand a much better chance of getting seat X in class Y from station Z than from another; which is why people need to know such data if they are to give a reasonable estimate on your chances.)

While I can't comment on your specific train, WL 2-4 is obviously very low, and you have over a month to go (and 3AC isn't that high a class, and so doesn't have that few seats). It would only take a few people to cancel for those seats to be yours. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

nb

Not that I know of, no. There's an easier approach though: Within certain limitations (I think you're allowed ten bookings a month or so), there's nothing to stop you from booking whatever rides you're thinking of, then canceling what you don't need again later. Cancellation fees are almost negligible, very close until departure; they'll go up just a little very very close to it; and you'll still get a 50% refund or so for an unused ticket up to twelve hours after departure or so.

This also helps explain why those waitlists get so full, then start miraculously moving at the last minute.

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R Murli Dhar

Hi,

Your position is quite okay. I understand your anxiety. But your date of travel is very far off. Give me your PNR number which is printed on your ticket as PNR on the left hand side or is somewhere on your ticket. I will track this for you. SEND THIS TO ME.

Secondly it is Monday when you are travelling, so there would should not be any rush since the train reaches Amritsar on Tuesday.

RLWL is a ticket which is booked on a train from an intermediate station, which Agra Cant is for this train.

Agra is a popular destination so there will be cancellations also. You stand a good chance.

Even if you think you don't want the tension NOW.. you have choices. You can take really comfortable A/C buses to New Delhi (3 hours on the four lane highway), and take trains, leaving from there... if you want alternate routes, there are many. Let me know. Happy to help. delhimurlidhar@gmail.com

If you want to check your status, and book alternates, you could sign into www.irctc.co.in and look up all alternates.. or you can track your tickets on www.indiarail.gov.in and click on PNR status.

If you don't have the time or the inclination, you can contact me.

Welcome to India.. it's got lot's of alternatives, and yes, there are VERY good people also. Remember that Good people are generally never written about, Bad people HOG the headlines.

Good wishes.

Murli (delhimurlidhar@gmail.com) or on this posting itself. I will get your flash.

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Gaura Mohana

I am going with my dad on the 9th of october from Mumbai to Delhi on 2925 Paschim express , 2 tier AC
we are 9, and 10 on the waiting list- do you guys think it will get confirmed?

R Murli Dhar

Hello Mr Gaurav,

You stand a pretty good chance. Just keep checking your PNR status.

Best wishes.

Murli

machadinha

Folks, kindly post your queries just once, so no double- or multi-posting of identical or very similar or directly related queries in various places; and secondly, kindly use just this thread (which Gaura seems to have already discovered by now) for your will-I-get-confirmed type queries: http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...e-only-t78547/.

This thread was meant as an explanation of the system; not for individual questions of will it work out for me.

Splanky

Hi There!

Wow, what an interesting forum this is!
I read the article thoroughly, but still have some questions;

We'll be visiting India from the 29th of September up to the 3rd of December. For the 30th of September I've booked a ticket in Two-AC from Hyderabad to Hospet, with the Rayalaseema Express (7429). Tickets are booked online through irctc.co.in and confirmed...nice!

We need to go back at the 3rd of October, so I tried booking a ticket for the two of us; boarding Hospet and travelling up to Guntur, by Amaravati Express (7226). The tickets I have booked state WL/3 and WL/4 (current status).

Reading the guide I found out that I need at least RAC-tickets to be on the train for sure, so I tried booking from the originating station; this shows me that it's possible to book the Two-AC tickets from Hubli to Guntur, wich puts us on the RAC/1 place.

My questions;
- Is it smart to book the last mentioned tickets?
- If booked from Hubli, could we board at Hospet without problems (loosing our places etc.)?

Thanks for your help!

Greetings,
Eric

vsp27759

Dear Splanky,

##Please look at this:
-------------
7226 AMARAVATI EXP 5-12-2009 HUBLI JN VIJAYAWADA JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A Class -3A
1 5-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0012 AVAILABLE- 0013
2 7-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0012 AVAILABLE- 0015
3 9-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0012 AVAILABLE- 0015
4 12-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0012 AVAILABLE- 0015
5 14-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0012 AVAILABLE- 0015
6 16-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0012 AVAILABLE- 0015
.............................. ..................
7226 AMARAVATI EXP 5-12-2009 HOSPET JN VIJAYAWADA JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A Class -3A
1 5-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0013
2 7-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0014
3 9-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0014
4 12-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0014
5 14-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0014
6 16-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0014
.............................. ................

##If I am correct, you must have been placed in RLWL for your HPT-GNT Ticket!!!

##Now that you have booked ex.UBL you need to change the Boarding Point to HPT. Otherwise, you need to go to Hubli and board the train.

##You can change the Boarding Point only after reaching Hospet.

Splanky

I'm sorry, this doesn't tell me a lot...

This is what an enquiry says:

You Queried For PNR Number 431-0818455

Journey Details
S. No. Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) From Station To Station Reserved Upto Station Boarding Point Station Class

1 7226 AMARAVATI EXP 3-10-2009 HPT GNT GNT HPT 2A

S. No.
Booking Status Current Status

(Coach No , Berth No., Quota) (Coach No , Berth No.)

Passenger 1 W/L 3 ,RLGN W/L 3
Passenger 2 W/L 4 ,RLGN W/L 4

Charting Status CHART NOT PREPARED

So I think you're right about the kind of wait list. So, does this make it smart to book the Hubli-Guntur RAC-ticket?
And then when in Hospet, could I over there change the boarding place?

Greetings, thanks again!
Eric

vsp27759

Dear Splanky,

The difference between UBL-GNT Quota AND HPT-GNT Quota itself indicates that HPT-GNT is Remote Location Quota, and consequently, the Waiting List thereafter, will be RLWL.

After arriving in HPT, you need to change the Boarding Point from Hubli to Hospet.

vij4all

Hi guys,

back with yet another query and thanks in advance for replying..

Have booked 2 tickets in 3 tier to katgodham from new delhi on the 3rd night (next sunday)..the WL status still shows WL16 and WL 17..u think it will get confirmed or should i start looking at alternatives like a bus?

Thanks
Vijay

R Murli Dhar

Hi, I think you stand a good chance of it being confirmed.. just wait till the 30th. The buzy season would be over. At this time, most passengers who are mostly from Bengal, and some from the New Delhi side would be returning after the long weekend, and therefore thereshould be no upgoing passengers as such. This must be bookings made by agents hoping to make a fast buck. Anyway, your alternatives to Kathgodam.. involves going to Naini Tal/Almora/Kausani I think.. There are good buses running from New Delhi. And you shouldbe able to get a seat with two/three days notice. Otherwise you can always try Tatkal. 2 days before the date of journey, excluding the date of journey. Good wishes, and have a nice salubrious holiday.

vsp27759

Dear vij4all,

Have booked 2 tickets in 3 tier to katgodham from new delhi on the 3rd night (next sunday)..the WL status still shows WL16 and WL 17..u think it will get confirmed or should i start looking at alternatives like a bus?

##There is a separate thread where Waiting List queries are raised. This query 'could' have gone into that thread.

##You said "3-tier". I assume this to be AC.3.Tier. Kindly confirm!!!

vsp27759

Dear vij4all,

##Now, please look at this:
-----------------------------
5013 RANIKHET EXP 28-12-2009 DELHI KATHGODAM GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 28-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0014 AVAILABLE- 0241
2 29-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0015 AVAILABLE- 0237
....................
Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
5013 RANIKHET EXP 12-12-2009 DELHI KATHGODAM GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 12-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0001 AVAILABLE- 0239
2 13-12-2009 RAC 1/RAC 1 AVAILABLE- 0232
3 14-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0016 AVAILABLE- 0237
4 15-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0014 AVAILABLE- 0245
5 16-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0013 AVAILABLE- 0237
6 17-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0010 AVAILABLE- 0245
..........
5013 RANIKHET EXP 18-12-2009 DELHI KATHGODAM GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 18-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0005 AVAILABLE- 0236
2 19-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0011 AVAILABLE- 0235
3 20-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0004 AVAILABLE- 0233
4 21-12-2009 AVAILABLE- 0009 AVAILABLE- 0208
5 22-12-2009 RAC 5/RAC 5 AVAILABLE- 0236
6 23-12-2009 WL 1/WL 1 AVAILABLE- 0189
............................

##The DLI-KGM Quota itself is 16 Berths; and you are waitlisted at WL.16 and Wl.17.:-) Before the Waiting List commences, please note, there will be 6 RAC Passengers.
----
##Keep some viable alternative (or) attempt Tatkal on the morning of 1.10.2009,ONLY IN THE PRS COUNTER, by standing in the Counter atleast by 7.00 hrs., since the booking starts at 8.00 hrs.
.....
5013 RANIKHET EXP 30-09-2009 DELHI KATHGODAM TATKAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 30- 9-2009 NOT AVAILABLE WL 26/WL 18
2 1-10-2009 WL 23/WL 23 WL 57/WL 48
3 2-10-2009 WL 12/WL 12 AVAILABLE- 0044
4 3-10-2009 AVAILABLE- 0016 AVAILABLE- 0130
5 4-10-2009 AVAILABLE- 0016 AVAILABLE- 0130
6 5-10-2009 AVAILABLE- 0016 AVAILABLE- 0130
-------------------------------------------

vij4all

now you have managed to confuse me...

(a) are you sayign that it will open up?

(b) tatkal will only open on the 2nd morning - when i will be in the train to agra..i prefer doing it online so should i do a tatkal? and then i will have to stand in queue to get this one cancelled?

On another note, i booked a tatkal 3 tier from agra cannt to new delhi for the 3rd evening by the Jhelum express which arrives at 17:00 hrs into agra cannt and at delhi at 20:15. Hope the train doesnt get late