GNWL Tickets: General Waiting List Tickets – Know Train Ticket Types & Confirmation Chances

All about General Waiting List (GNWL) tickets.

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GNWL Tickets: General Waiting List Tickets – Know Train Ticket Types & Confirmation Chances

GNWL Tickets

The complexity of these technical terms may make it challenging for the average user to comprehend what TQWL, RLWL, or PQWL mean. However, General Waiting List (GNWL) are simply waitlisted tickets that are given out when a passenger starts their trip at the route's starting station or at stations nearby. 

In other words, “The General Quota, also known as the General Waiting List (GNWL), is the primary waiting list for a train and is typically reserved for passengers boarding at (or near) the train's origin station and transferring to the terminating station. A General Wait List (GNWL or just WL) is created once all of the General Quota tickets have been sold.”

GNWL Ticket Confirmation Chances?

GNWL Tickets: When RAC tickets are canceled, GNWL ticket holders are given priority over them. The likelihood that a spot on this waiting list will open up is the highest. The chances of your GNWL ticket being confirmed depend on several factors:

  • Booking time: The earlier you book, the higher the chances.

  • Train and route popularity: Busy routes or popular trains tend to have more cancellations, improving GNWL ticket chances.

  • Travel season: Off-season travel sees higher confirmation rates due to lower demand.

You can check the status of your GNWL ticket online through the IRCTC website or mobile apps to see if your ticket has moved up the waitlist or has been confirmed.

All about Waiting List Tickets

  • The passenger is on the waitlist if the status of their ticket is indicated by the letters "WL" followed by a number. The ticket can only be confirmed if the passengers who had previously made reservations for the same trip cancel their tickets. 

  • For instance, if the status is GNWL 13 / WL 9, it means that there are 9 people on the waiting list for the ticket, and it will only be confirmed if those 9 people cancel their reservations for the same trip. GNWL/AVAILABLE indicates that the status of the ticket is currently "confirmed," as some earlier-booked passengers have canceled their reservations. 

  • After the preparation of the chart, if the passenger's status is still waitlisted, they will not be assigned a berth. A cancellation fee of Rs. 60 is taken from each person whose name is on the waitlist if the cancellation is made 48 hours prior to the train's departure. 

  • Upon completion of the final chart preparation, if all of the passengers on an e-ticket are waitlisted, the ticket is automatically canceled, and the full amount is returned to the user's account. In this case, the passengers are advised not to board the train. 

  • The e-ticket does not automatically cancel if at least one passenger has RAC or confirmed status while the other passengers on the same ticket have waiting list status, and the passengers are permitted to board the train.

  • If a ticket is CNF (confirmed) or RAC (reservation against cancellation), the traveler has been assured a seat, but not if it is WL (waiting list).

FAQs

What is GNWL (General Waiting List) in train tickets?

GNWL stands for General Waiting List, and it applies when all available seats in the General Quota for a train are booked. Passengers with GNWL tickets are placed on a waiting list and have a higher chance of confirmation, especially for long-distance trains starting from their boarding station.

How can I check the confirmation chances of my GNWL ticket?

You can check the current status of your GNWL ticket by logging into the IRCTC website or mobile app. By entering your PNR (Passenger Name Record) number, you can see if your ticket has moved up the waiting list or has been confirmed.

Which type of waiting list has the highest chances of confirmation?

GNWL has the highest chances of confirmation compared to other types like RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List) or PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List). This is especially true if your journey starts from the train's originating station and you book early.

Also Read: RLWL: Remote Location Waiting List – Know Train Ticket Types & Confirmation Chances

Also Read: PQWL: Pooled Quota Waiting List – Meaning, Confirm Chances, and More

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