What Do GNWL & RNWL Mean: Understanding Waiting Lists in Indian Railways

25 April, 2024


Synopsis

• When booking train tickets in India, if you receive a WL (Waiting List) ticket, it indicates that your ticket is on a waitlist and its confirmation depends on subsequent cancellations.
  
  

• The General Waiting List (GNWL) is the most common type of waiting list and offers a higher chance of confirmation, especially for passengers starting their journey from the originating station.
  
  

• Remote Location Waiting List (RLWL) tickets, designated for passengers boarding at intermediate stations, have a lower priority and confirmation probability compared to GNWL tickets.
  
  

When booking a train ticket, if you end up with a WL (Waiting List) ticket, it is important to understand what it means and the likelihood of it getting confirmed. When we reserve tickets close to the day of travel, the ticket often gets booked under the waiting list. Not all waiting list tickets get confirmed, so it is essential to know the chances of confirmation for each type of ticket. Keep reading on to learn more about what waiting list categories such as GNWL mean and their confirmation chances.
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Understanding the Different Types of Waiting Lists in Indian Railways

When you book a train ticket, you are likely to come across the following terms:

• Waiting List (WL)
  
  Often, when booking a ticket, it gets booked with a WL code. This means your ticket is on a waiting list. This is the most common waiting list code. Tickets of this kind have the highest likelihood of getting confirmed. For example, if the ticket reads General Waiting List 7/WL 6, GNWL means you are number 6 on the waiting list. Your ticket will be confirmed after the cancellation of tickets of 6 other passengers.
  
  

• General Waiting List (GNWL)
  
  GNWL means tickets that are issued to passengers who start their journey from the originating station or stations close to it.
  
  

• Pooled Quota Waiting List (PQWL)
  
  When a long-distance train stops between two stations, waiting list tickets get categorised as PQWL. If a confirmed ticket is cancelled at a station, the chances of PQWL confirmation are higher.
  
  

• Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC)
  
  RAC means Reservation Against Cancellation. In RAC, two passengers are allowed to travel on one berth. If passengers with a confirmed ticket do not travel, their berth is offered to other passengers as RAC.
  
  

• Roadside Station Waiting List (RSWL)
  
  Sometimes, the ticket shows an RSWL code, which means Roadside Waiting List. This code appears when a ticket is booked from originating stations to roadside stations or nearby stations. The likelihood of such waiting list tickets getting confirmed is very low.
  
  

• Tatkal Quota Waiting List (TQWL)
  
  If a ticket booked under the Tatkal scheme ends up on the waiting list, it will have a TQWL code. Such waiting list tickets have a very low chance of getting confirmed.
  
  

• No Seat Berth (NOSB)
  
  The railway charges child fare for children under 12 years of age but does not allocate a seat. In such cases, the PNR status shows an NOSB code..
  
  

• Remote Location Waiting List (RLWL)
  
  Tickets on the Remote Location Waiting List have the highest chance of getting confirmed. This is a quota for berths for smaller stations. At these intermediate stations, waiting list tickets are categorised as RLWL. RLWL means that the system allows passengers a chance to secure a seat if someone cancels their trip specifically from that remote location. However, it is crucial to understand that RLWL tickets have lower chances of confirmation compared to GNWL or RAC tickets.
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Booking Train Tickets on PayZapp

Now that you’re equipped with an understanding of the different waiting list categories, you can book your train journey with ease. You can book train tickets via HDFC Bank’s PayZapp. PayZapp is an all-in-one payments app that allows you to make a multitude of payments. You can also send money via UPI and make travel booking from the ‘Shop’ section.

Click here to book train tickets through PayZapp on your IOS phone.

Click here to make train ticket booking through PayZapp on your Android phone.

As a PayZapp user, the collaboration between HDFC Bank and IRCTC brings increased convenience for directly booking and cancelling railway tickets. Here’s how you can book your train tickets on PayZapp:

1. Log into PayZapp. You can download the Online Payment app from your phone’s app store and register using your mobile number.
   
   

2. Go to ‘Shop’ and tap on ‘Trains’.
   
   

3. Enter the to and from stations and select the departure date.
   
   

4. Select the desired train and check the availability.
   
   

5. Choose the preferred seating and continue.
   
   

6. Enter your IRCTC username and password to continue.
   
   

7. Enter the required passenger details and proceed to make the payment.
   
   

8. Before completing the payment, apply any available promo codes to earn cashback.
   
   

9. You can pay for your train ticket booking using a Debit Card, Credit Card or UPI..
   
   

PayZapp Wallet gives you access to exclusive offers, attractive discounts, and valuable points, all aimed at enhancing your experience and rewards when reserving train tickets via IRCTC. What’s more, you can make payments with a single swipe by linking your HDFC Bank Credit and Debit Cards.


​​​​​​​*Terms and conditions apply. The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances.