Remote Location Waiting List (RLWL) and Waiting List (WL) are two types of waiting list tickets that are issued by the Indian Railways (IR). Both RLWL and WL tickets are issued when there are no confirmed seats available on a train. However, there are some key differences between the two types of tickets.
RLWL- Remote Location Waiting List
These are tickets issued to passengers who are boarding the train from intermediate stations. Intermediate stations are those stations that are located between the origin and destination stations of the train.
RLWL tickets are also issued to passengers who are boarding the train from stations that are located on a different route than the main route of the train.
WL- Waiting List
WL tickets are issued to passengers who are boarding the train from any station, regardless of distance. This includes the origin and destination stations of the train.
RLWL tickets have higher priority than WL tickets. This means that RLWL tickets are more likely to be confirmed than WL tickets. This is because RLWL tickets are issued to passengers who are boarding the train from intermediate stations, which are often the most important stations on the route.
Key differences between RLWL and WL tickets:
- Chances of confirmation: RLWL tickets have a higher chance of confirmation than WL tickets. This is because RLWL tickets have higher priority.
- Upgradation: RLWL tickets are more likely to be upgraded to RAC status than WL tickets. RAC stands for Reservation Against Cancellation. RAC passengers are assigned half a berth each. If a confirmed passenger cancels their ticket, then RAC passengers are upgraded to confirmed status.
- Refund: If your RLWL or WL ticket is not confirmed, you can cancel your ticket and get a full refund. You can cancel your ticket online or through the IRCTC app.
Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between RLWL and WL:
| Feature | RLWL | WL |
|---|---|---|
| Priority | Higher | Lower |
| Stations | Intermediate | All |
| Chances of confirmation | More | Less |
| Upgradation | More likely to be upgraded to RAC status | Less likely to be upgraded to RAC status |
| Refund | Full refund if ticket is not confirmed | Full refund if ticket is not confirmed |
Tips to increase your chances of getting an RLWL or WL ticket confirmed:
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
- Book your ticket as early as possible. The earlier you book your ticket, the higher your chances of getting a confirmed seat.
- Travel on weekdays instead of weekends. Weekends are typically more crowded, so there is less chance of getting a confirmed seat on a weekend.
- Travel during the off-season instead of the peak season. The peak season is typically during the summer holidays and the Diwali holidays.
- Avoid traveling on popular routes. Popular routes are typically more crowded, so there is less chance of getting a confirmed seat on a popular route.
- Consider traveling on a different train. If you are unable to get a confirmed seat on your preferred train, consider traveling on a different train.
Tips for traveling on an RLWL or WL ticket
- Check the status of your ticket regularly, especially as the date of travel approaches. You can check the status of your ticket online or through the IRCTC app.
- If your RLWL or WL ticket is not confirmed, arrive at the station early. This will give you a better chance of getting a seat on the train, even if your ticket is not confirmed.
- Be prepared to travel without a confirmed seat. If your RLWL or WL ticket is not confirmed, you may have to travel without a confirmed seat. This means that you may have to share a berth with another passenger, or you may have to travel standing up.
RLWL and WL tickets are two types of waiting list tickets that are issued by the Indian Railways. RLWL tickets have higher priority than WL tickets, which means that RLWL tickets are more likely to be confirmed.
If you are traveling on an RLWL or WL ticket, be sure to check the status of your ticket regularly and arrive at the station early.
Feature Image Credit- Mint
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I once booked a ticket and it was in RLWL status for as long as possible and in the end wasn’t confirm. So I doubt if RLWL indeed has the high priority.
I think it varies a bit from situation to situation. A lot factors might come into play like no. Of passengers, destination, etc. Not in all cases rlwl might be priority but overall if we see rlwl has more cases of being on high priority.
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