Train Ticket: Will your Waiting List Train Ticket get Confirmed? Here’s an easy way to find out
Train Ticket Confirmation: During festive seasons or in times of urgent need, having a waitlisted train ticket after booking can be a source of great anxiety. A lot of time is spent wondering whether the ticket will be confirmed or not. However, if you know a few simple tricks, you can estimate the probability of your waitlisted ticket getting confirmed. In this post, we will discuss these methods in detail.
Common Misconception vs. Reality
Many people believe that the waiting list starts only after 100% of the train’s tickets are booked. But this is not the reality. Indian Railways reserves about 50% of the total seats for various quotas, and the remaining 50% are available for general passengers. These quotas include the Ladies Quota, Senior Citizen Quota, and Divyangjan Quota.
How to Know if Your Ticket Will Be Confirmed?
To understand if your waitlisted ticket will be confirmed, pay attention to the following points:
- Check Seat Availability in Different Quotas: The best way to gauge the chances of your ticket getting confirmed is to check the number of vacant seats in various quotas. You can use the IRCTC website or app for this.
- Ladies Quota: This quota is reserved exclusively for women. For example, let’s say for a journey from Howrah to Rampurhat on the Saraighat Express, there is a waiting list of 22 in the general quota, but one seat is available in the Ladies Quota.
- Lower Berth Senior Citizen Quota: This quota is reserved for male passengers aged 60 and above and female passengers aged 58 and above. On the same train and date, there might be 7 seats available in this quota.
- Divyangjan Quota: This quota is reserved for passengers with disabilities. You might find that there are 2 seats available in this quota.
When is the Probability of Confirmation High?
If the total number of vacant seats in various quotas is higher than your waiting list number, your chances of getting a confirmed ticket increase significantly. This is because, shortly before the train’s departure, the unsold seats from the quotas are released to clear the general waiting list.
When is the Probability of Confirmation Low?
However, this rule may not apply in all situations. During certain peak times or on high-demand routes, the chances of a waitlisted ticket getting confirmed are quite low. For example:
- During Festive Seasons: The demand for tickets on routes like Puri during Durga Puja or on other popular routes during major festivals is very high.
- High-Demand Routes: Trains to destinations like Yesvantpur or Secunderabad for medical reasons also have consistently high demand for tickets.
During these times, the quota seats also fill up quickly, reducing the chances of the waiting list getting cleared.
So, the next time your train ticket is on the waiting list, don’t get disheartened. Use these methods to check the probability of confirmation. This will reduce your anxiety and help you plan your journey better.
