RAC and Waitlist Explained: GNWL, RLWL, PQWL, CNF and What Happens at Charting
Last updated 10 October 2026
A PNR status like "GNWL 23 / RLWL 4" is short for a lot of information. It tells you which queue you are in, where you stood when you booked and where you stand now. This guide explains each status, how the queues move, and what happens when the chart is prepared.
Booking status and current status
Every PNR shows two statuses for each passenger:
- Booking status: where you stood when you bought the ticket. This never changes.
- Current status: where you stand now. This moves as other passengers cancel.
Seeing "WL 40" at booking and "WL 12" now tells you the queue has moved 28 places since you booked. That is more useful than either number on its own.
The statuses you will see
| Status | Meaning | Can you board? |
|---|---|---|
| CNF | Confirmed. A berth or seat is allotted to you. The coach and berth number are usually shown after charting. | Yes |
| RAC | Reservation Against Cancellation. You may board and you get a place, but you share a side lower berth with another passenger until a full berth frees up. | Yes |
| GNWL | General Waitlist. The main queue, for passengers travelling from the train's origin or nearby stations. | Only if it becomes RAC or CNF |
| RLWL | Remote Location Waitlist. A separate, smaller queue for important intermediate stations along the route. | Only if it becomes RAC or CNF |
| PQWL | Pooled Quota Waitlist. A shared queue for some short journeys between intermediate stations. | Only if it becomes RAC or CNF |
| TQWL / CKWL | Tatkal Waitlist. The waitlist for Tatkal bookings. | Only if it becomes RAC or CNF |
| CAN | Cancelled. | No |
Other codes appear occasionally, such as RQWL (request waitlist) for some unusual journeys. The rule is the same: any status ending in WL is a waitlist.
Why the type of waitlist matters more than the number
Railways divide each train's berths into quotas. One block is for passengers from the origin (general), another for certain intermediate stations (remote location), another pooled between short-distance segments, and so on. Each quota has its own waitlist, and a cancellation in one quota mostly frees berths for that quota's queue.
So "GNWL 30" and "RLWL 30" are not comparable. The general quota is usually far larger, so more cancellations happen in it and its queue tends to move further. Remote location and pooled quotas are small. A smaller-looking number on RLWL or PQWL can be harder to clear than a larger GNWL number.
Railzy does not predict whether a waitlisted ticket will confirm. Any percentage you see elsewhere is an estimate. The reliable signal is how far your current status has moved since booking, which you can check on the PNR page.
What RAC actually means on board
RAC passengers are allotted the side lower berth. Two RAC passengers share it, sitting during the day. At night they still share one berth unless one is upgraded.
If a confirmed passenger cancels or does not turn up, the ticket examiner can give their berth to the next RAC passenger. This can happen after the train leaves. An RAC ticket often ends up as a full berth, but that is not guaranteed.
When the chart is prepared
The reservation chart is the final list of who has which berth. Once it is prepared, waitlisted passengers are either moved up to RAC or CNF or left on the waitlist for good.
- In 2025 Indian Railways moved the first chart earlier, to about eight hours before departure, so waitlisted passengers find out sooner. For early-morning departures, the chart is prepared the previous evening.
- A second, shorter chart is prepared closer to departure. It allots berths freed by cancellations made after the first chart.
- Timings are counted from the train's departure from its originating station, not from your boarding station.
If your ticket stays waitlisted
- E-ticket (booked online): if every passenger on the PNR is still waitlisted after charting, the ticket is cancelled automatically and the money is refunded to your payment method, minus a clerkage charge. You do not need to cancel it yourself.
- Partly confirmed PNR: if some passengers on the PNR are confirmed or RAC and others are waitlisted, the ticket is not auto-cancelled. Check IRCTC's current rules on whether the waitlisted passengers may travel with the confirmed ones.
- Do not board a reserved coach on a waitlisted ticket. Railways enforce this, and you can be fined or asked to move to the unreserved coach.
Checking your status
Enter your 10-digit PNR on our PNR status page to see both booking and current status for every passenger. Once your ticket is confirmed, the same page links to a departure plan. It works out when to leave for the station from the train's expected arrival at your boarding point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GNWL and RLWL?
GNWL (General Waitlist) is the main queue for passengers from the origin or nearby stations, drawing on the largest quota. RLWL (Remote Location Waitlist) is a separate, smaller queue for certain intermediate stations. Because the quotas differ in size, the same waitlist number does not mean the same chance of confirmation.
Can I travel on an RAC ticket?
Yes. RAC passengers may board and are given a shared side lower berth. They can be upgraded to a full berth if a confirmed passenger cancels or does not turn up.
What happens to a waitlisted e-ticket after charting?
If all passengers on an online-booked ticket are still waitlisted after the chart is prepared, the ticket is cancelled automatically and refunded minus a clerkage charge.
When is the reservation chart prepared?
Since 2025 the first chart is prepared about eight hours before the train departs its originating station; for early-morning trains it is prepared the previous evening. A second chart follows closer to departure.
What does CNF mean in PNR status?
CNF means confirmed: a berth or seat has been allotted to that passenger. Coach and berth numbers are usually shown after the chart is prepared.
Put it to use
This guide summarises published Indian Railways and IRCTC rules in plain language. Rules and charges change from time to time. For anything that affects money or travel, check the current rule on the IRCTC website before you book.