Understanding RLWL Ticket Confirmation After Chart Preparation

In Indian Railways, an RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List) ticket can be confirmed after chart preparation, but the process depends on several specific circumstances. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of how this confirmation works, the status of waitlisted tickets, and the practical considerations for passengers holding RLWL tickets.

Chart Preparation Process

The reservation chart is typically prepared a few hours before the departure of the train. This chart reflects the final allocation of seats and is the basis for the confirmation status of all tickets, including RLWL tickets. Once the chart is prepared, the status of RLWL tickets is finalized.

RLWL Ticket Confirmation Status

After the chart is prepared, if an RLWL ticket is still in the waiting list, it will generally not change to a confirmed status unless there are cancellations of confirmed tickets. Typically, an RLWL ticket will only get confirmed if seats become available due to cancellations. However, this is not guaranteed and the confirmation chances are relatively low.

Post Chart Preparation Considerations

After the chart is prepared, if there are cancellations of confirmed seats, the RLWL tickets may get confirmed automatically. Nevertheless, passengers should be aware that this is not a guaranteed outcome. Therefore, it is advisable to frequently check the status of RLWL tickets, especially in the last few hours before departure.

Travel and Refund Policies

Not all waitlist tickets, including RLWL, will be confirmed. Those that are confirmed or placed in the RAC (Restrictcoaching Allocation Control) system during the final chart preparation are eligible for travel. The rest will be processed for refund. Therefore, railway authorities do not automatically refund all RLWL tickets.

It is worth noting that PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counter tickets will only get an automatic refund if they are personally cancelled. However, passengers with these tickets have the flexibility to perform their journey in general coaches or even upgrade their tickets to a higher class by paying the difference. Trains can also allocate berths, not reported, to passengers during the journey if the RAC is cleared.

Priority of Waiting List Tickets

The priority of waiting list tickets after RAC is as follows:

Based on this priority, RLWL tickets hold a higher chance of confirmation compared to PQWL tickets, but there is no absolute guarantee.

RLWL Quota Explanation

RLWL stands for Remote Location Waiting List and is a specific waiting list quota for long-distance trains. Tickets issued through RLWL are for intermediate stations between the originating and terminating stations. Typically, these stations are the most important towns or cities on a particular route. For example, if a train is travelling from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri, and it crosses Maldah on the way, then Maldah becomes a Remote Location station. Therefore, RLWL tickets are allocated based on the number of seats allotted by IRCTC to that particular station.

RLWL tickets are confirmed only when someone from a remote location station vacates a berth through cancellation. These stations prepare their own chart 2-3 hours before the actual departure of the train. As such, RLWL confirmation chances are usually very low, as cancellations are rare from these locations due to their significance.

Conclusion

While an RLWL ticket can be confirmed after chart preparation, passengers should be aware that this is not a guaranteed outcome. The confirmation chances for RLWL tickets are higher than those for PQWL tickets, but passengers should also be proactive in checking their ticket status. For passengers with RLWL tickets, it’s essential to remain updated with the latest seat availability information to maximize their chances of traveling.

For more information, always refer to the official Indian Railways website or app for real-time updates regarding your ticket status.