Several types of waiting lists, which can accommodate passengers, exist in Indian Railways when tickets are being booked particularly during the peak season or for a preferred route. The primary waiting lists include:
1. RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List)
- This waiting list is used for stations that are distant from the train's origin.
- It's specific to tickets booked for stations far from the train's starting point.
- It works similarly to the General Waiting List, but the chances of confirmation might be slightly different based on the distance.
2. GNWL (General Waiting List)
- This is the most common type of waiting list.
- Passengers are placed on this list if there is no immediate availability of confirmed tickets.
- The number of passengers on this waiting list decreases as more cancellations occur.
- The GNWL is applicable for tickets booked on a train's origin station and closer destinations.
3. PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List)
- This list is used for trains where multiple stations share a common quota of tickets.
- It's common for trains with a large number of stops, where a pooled ticket quota exists.
- The chances of confirmation are lower compared to GNWL, but it is still possible if cancellations occur across the pooled stations.
4. TQWL (Tatkal Quota Waiting List)
- This is a specific waiting list for passengers booking tickets under the Tatkal scheme (last-minute bookings).
- Tatkal tickets are booked at a premium price and are subject to availability in the reserved quota.
- If you book a ticket under the Tatkal scheme and there is no availability, you may be placed on the TQWL.
- The chances of confirmation for TQWL are relatively lower than for GNWL, especially on high-demand trains.
5. CKWL (Tatkal Waiting List under Confirmed Ticket)
- If a passenger holds a Tatkal ticket but it is marked as "waiting," they will be placed on the CKWL.
- This indicates the passenger has a Tatkal ticket, but it hasn’t yet been confirmed.
- The likelihood of confirmation depends on cancellations from other passengers with higher priority.
6. SWL (Special Waiting List)
- This waiting list is for special trains such as those during festivals, or trains under specific schemes like the Holiday Special or Festival Special.
- The confirmation chances can vary depending on the train's popularity.
7. RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List)
- This is a type of waiting list where the train originates from a distant location or a station that isn't the main departure point.
- These are tickets for passengers traveling from the distant stations.
8. RSWL (Railway Station Waiting List)
- This list is similar to the General Waiting List but is a bit more specific. It tracks waiting tickets for passengers boarding from particular stations.
9. WL (Waiting List)
- Simply referred to as "waiting list," this is a general term that applies to all types of waiting lists, like GNWL, PQWL, TQWL, etc.
- It is common for Indian Railways to use the WL designation in cases where passengers are just placed in any of the above categories if seats are not available.
How Does Confirmation Work?
- Ticket Confirmation depends on cancellations. As other passengers cancel their tickets, the waiting list positions get updated, and a ticket may be confirmed.
- RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation): If a waiting list ticket is on the verge of confirmation but not yet confirmed, it may be upgraded to RAC, which allows a passenger to travel, but they may not have a seat.
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