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Train travellers often wait till the chart is prepared to know if their waiting ticket is confirmed. Here’s how you can check confirmation chances early and plan better
During regular days, there’s a 26% chance that a waiting list ticket will get confirmed. (News18 Hindi)
Passengers often face confusion when their train ticket remains on the waiting list. In such cases, it becomes difficult to plan the journey, especially when the final chart is prepared just four hours before departure. However, there is a way to check the chances of your ticket getting confirmed right after booking. Here’s how you can find out and avoid last-minute stress.
High Waiting List Numbers
Waiting lists in trains can go up to 200–300, and during festivals or holidays, this number can even reach 500. At such times, the chances of confirmation are slim, as passengers who book 60 days in advance cancel their tickets only in unavoidable situations. However, during regular days, there’s a 26% chance that a waiting list ticket will get confirmed.
How Waiting Tickets Get Cleared
On average, 21% of passengers with confirmed tickets do not end up travelling. These passengers usually cancel their tickets. Around 5% of confirmed ticket holders don’t travel even after the final chart is prepared. This means roughly 26% of confirmed seats end up vacant, giving waiting list passengers a chance of confirmation.
Confirmation Estimate
You can estimate your chances by checking your waiting list number. A typical Sleeper or Third AC coach has 72 seats, and about 17–18 of these may become available due to cancellations on regular days. These seats can go to RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) or waiting list passengers.
Most long-distance trains have 22 to 24 coaches. Excluding the engine and guard coaches, four are general class and eight are usually Sleeper coaches. So, in Sleeper class alone, there’s a good chance that 75–80 waiting tickets might get confirmed.
At present, Indian Railways prepares the reservation chart four hours before departure. However, plans are underway to extend this to 24 hours in advance, which could further ease travel planning for passengers.
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