Stories
Train Waiting Ticket: Waiting list crosses 100, what are the chances of confirmation during festivals?
- •The festive season sees a rush for train tickets, with waiting lists exceeding 100 in many long-distance trains.
- •Some routes show "regret" around festivals, meaning even waiting tickets cannot be booked.
- •An analysis of IRCTC data reveals very few trains have available seats, with confirmed tickets scarce during festivals.
- •The government will operate over 100 special trains during the festive season, particularly for UP and Bihar.
- •Even 100 waiting tickets can be confirmed, especially if the waiting ticket category is General Waiting (GNWL).
Key Questions Answered
A high waiting list of 100 or more can still get confirmed because the railway adds extra coaches to trains. General Waiting (GNWL) tickets are confirmed first, followed by Remote Location (RLWL), while Pool Quota (PQWL) takes the longest. Additionally, selecting the 'VIKALP' option during booking allows you to be automatically allotted a seat on another available train on that route if your original train remains unconfirmed.
To improve confirmation chances, you should monitor and book tickets on special festive trains operated by the government rather than relying solely on popular regular trains. You can also book tickets from slightly earlier or later originating stations, or choose smaller destination stations and complete your journey using a local train.
The category of your waiting ticket determines the order of clearance. General Waiting (GNWL) tickets get confirmed first, Remote Location Waiting (RLWL) tickets take more time, and Pool Quota Waiting (PQWL) tickets are confirmed last.
