Navigating RLWL Booking Confusions: Tips and Tricks
Are you facing the frustration of seeing your RLWL status as RLWL/8 and not sure if your ticket will be confirmed in time for your journey? In this article, we will guide you through understanding your current situation and what you can do to potentially secure your travel plans.
Understanding the RLWL State
Right now, your RLWL status is showing as RLWL/8, which means your reservation has been booked but is not yet confirmed. This common issue often arises especially during peak seasons when the chances of confirmation decrease significantly. However, given that your journey is 8 days away, there is a sliver of hope that your ticket may still be confirmed once the system processes the bookings.
Chances of Confirmation
While the chances of confirmation for an RLWL booking are quite low, they are not zero. Factors that can affect the confirmation of RLWL tickets include the importance of the train on the route, the peak season, and the number of other confirmed bookings. During peak seasons, the railway system is highly saturated, and confirmed bookings can vary significantly.
If your journey is deemed inevitable, you should still take steps to ensure your seat is secured. One of the most reliable methods is to request for a berth release from EQ (Emergency Quota). This procedure involves submitting a signed application to the Sr. Div Comm Manager at Vadodara station. Ensure the application includes all necessary details, such as your name, train name, date of journey, class, origin, destination, and the purpose of your travel. Allotting a berth depends on the urgency and the purpose of your travel.
Alternative Solutions
Given the current state of RLWL, it might be wise to explore alternative solutions. One option is to purchase another ticket from the starting station or a major station in between and attempt to enter the GNWL (Green Bench Wait List). This will cost money but may be worth it, as GNWL often moves continuously, securing you a seat even in RAC (Grade II AC). This is a strategy commonly used by travel agents, and it is fully legal, so you don’t have to worry.
Additional Tips
From April onward, we are in the peak season of the railway system. In peak seasons, the probability of confirmation for RLWL tickets is lower, but not impossible. It depends on the importance of the train and the route. Even if RLWL does not confirm, there are other options. You should wait till the day before your train leaves the starting station to see if your RLWL ticket gets confirmed. If not, you can try applying for Tatkal. Although getting a confirmed Tatkal ticket can be difficult, agents have better chances of securing these tickets.
If the chart has been prepared and the booking was done online, your ticket would get automatically cancelled. However, if you booked at a counter, you should ask the nearby paan-walla (a local shop keeper) for advice. There is another possibility of finding ‘curr_avbl’ seats or berths. Regularly check all the trains for availability, and if you find any berths or seats in a train coming from far away, book them. I have often used this method successfully in 2AC on trains that are on their last leg of their journey.
We hope these tips and strategies help you navigate the frustrating process of RLWL ticket bookings. Best of luck with your journey!