Indian Railway Glossary
Plain-English meanings for the booking codes, waiting-list types and IRCTC terms you run into when booking train tickets.
A
AC 2-Tier (2A)
An air-conditioned coach with two berths per side and curtains for privacy, coded A1, A2 and so on. Roomier than 3A and priced above it.
AC 3-Tier (3A)
An air-conditioned coach with three berths stacked on each side, bedding provided, and a coach code like B1 or B2. It's the most popular AC class for overnight journeys.
AC First Class (1A)
The top class, with lockable two- and four-berth cabins and no berth numbers shown until charting. It's the most expensive and the least common, found mainly on premium routes.
B
C
Chart Preparation
The point where Railways finalises who sits where. The first chart is usually made about four to eight hours before the train leaves its origin, with a second chart closer to departure. Waiting-list e-tickets that haven't confirmed by then are cancelled and refunded.
CNF (Confirmed)
Your seat or berth is locked in. The exact coach and berth number are printed when the chart is prepared a few hours before departure, so a confirmed ticket may show 'CNF' first and the coach or berth only later.
Current Availability
Current Availability is the real-time count of vacant seats that open for booking after the reservation chart is prepared. These tickets are 100% confirmed with assigned coach and berth numbers. The booking window opens 4 hours before departure (or the night before for morning trains) and closes 30 minutes before departure.
D
E
G
General Quota (GN)
The main pool of seats open to everyone, with no special eligibility. Most bookings draw from here, and it's the default unless you pick Tatkal, Ladies, Senior Citizen or another quota.
GNWL (General Waiting List)
The waiting list you get when boarding at or near the train's starting station. It clears the fastest of all the waiting lists because most of the train's berths are set aside for this quota.
L
P
PNR (Passenger Name Record)
The 10-digit number on the top of your ticket. It ties together the train, date, class, your stations and every passenger's status, so checking it tells you exactly where your booking stands.
PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List)
One small shared pool of berths covers several short-distance stations on the route. Because so many stations draw from the same pool, PQWL is the hardest waiting list to clear.
Premium Tatkal
A dynamic-priced version of Tatkal where the fare climbs as seats sell. There's no waiting list and no refund on cancellation, so it suits travellers who need a confirmed seat and are fine paying a moving price.
R
RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation)
You're allowed to board, but two RAC passengers share one side-lower berth, so you get a sitting spot rather than a full berth to sleep on. As confirmed passengers cancel, RAC moves up to a full berth.
RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List)
A waiting list for busy intermediate stations along the route. It only moves when someone travelling from that same stretch cancels, so it confirms less often than GNWL even on a low number.
S
Senior Citizen Quota
Lower berths set aside for men aged sixty and above and women aged forty-five and above. If the quota is full the system still tries to give eligible passengers a lower berth when berths free up.
Sleeper Class (SL)
The non-AC sleeper class, with open bays of six berths plus two side berths and barred windows. It's the cheapest way to lie down on an overnight train and the most widely available.
T
Tatkal Quota
A quota for last-minute travel that opens the day before the train starts from its origin. You pay extra over the base fare, and AC classes open at 10 AM while sleeper opens at 11 AM.
TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt)
How you claim a refund in special cases, such as the train being cancelled, running more than three hours late, or the AC failing. You file it online and the refund is reviewed by Railways rather than paid instantly.