Millions of people travel by train every day in India. Indian Railways is not only the fourth largest network in the world, but it is also an integral part of the daily lives of millions of travellers in the country. With such a huge number of tickets booked daily, every passenger can’t get a confirmed seat. This is why the Railways has created complex but well-planned waiting list categories.
While booking tickets, millions of people get on the waiting list, but they are unaware of which list provides the fastest confirmation and which one may involve a longer wait. This information is crucial for a smart traveller to plan their travel better. Let’s understand every aspect of these secret waiting lists of Indian Railways in detail.
Different Waiting Lists of Indian Railways
Indian Railways has several waiting list categories, each with its own specific meaning and priority.
GNWL (General Waiting List)
This is the most common and best waiting list. It is associated with the station from which the train originates. If you book a ticket from the starting station and seats are full, your name is added to this list. This list has the highest chance of confirmation.
RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List)
This list is for passengers traveling from an intermediate station between the train’s starting station and ending station. These passengers are given a limited quota. Because this list is farther from the starting station, the chances of confirmation are lower than those for GNWL.
PQWL (Pool Quota Waiting List)
This waiting list is for specific stations where the seat quota is very limited. Typically, this quota is divided among passengers traveling between a few short stations on a long-distance train. Seats in this quota are very limited, so getting confirmation is a little more difficult.
TQWL (Tatkal Waiting List)
This waiting list is for tickets booked under the Tatkal quota. This list is confirmed last among all other waiting lists, and the chances of confirmation are almost negligible.
Besides these, there are other categories like RLGN, whose priority is determined based on the train’s route and station.
Who Gets Confirmed First
Every passenger has a serious question: which ticket gets confirmed the fastest among these lists? According to railway rules, GNWL (General Waiting List) tickets have the highest priority and are confirmed first. The reason for this is that GNWL is directly linked to the train’s initial quota. When confirmed tickets booked from the originating station are cancelled, passengers on waiting lists on GNWL are immediately given confirmed seats.
In contrast, RLWL and PQWL tickets are confirmed only if previously booked tickets on the same route or in the same quota are cancelled. For example, if a passenger booked a ticket on RLWL from an intermediate station, confirmation will only be granted if a confirmed ticket is cancelled from the same intermediate station.
TQWL (Tatkal Waiting List) is the most vulnerable. Seats in the Tatkal quota are already quite limited, and the number of cancellations in this quota is very low, so the chances of confirmation in TQWL are considered the lowest.
What to keep in mind while booking
By understanding this complex waiting list system, you can better plan your journey. If you have the option, always try to book tickets from the originating station so that you can arrive at GNWL. If you book a waitlisted ticket in the Tatkal quota, keep your chances of confirmation very low and have an alternative plan ready. Booking wisely significantly increases your chances of getting a confirmed seat.