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Railway terminology glossary
Common Indian railway terms and coach classes, explained concisely.
- PNR(Passenger Name Record)Official term
- A 10-digit number on your ticket that tracks the booking and its current reservation status.
- CNF(Confirmed)Official term
- Your berth/seat is confirmed. A coach and berth are allotted.
- RAC(Reservation Against Cancellation)Official term
- You can board and are allotted shared seating; it often turns into a confirmed berth if someone cancels.
- WL(Waiting List)Official term
- Your ticket is waitlisted. It may confirm as others cancel; if it stays WL on some quotas it can be auto-cancelled.
- GNWL(General Waiting List)General explanation
- The most common waiting list, usually with the best chance of confirmation.
- RLWL(Remote Location Waiting List)General explanation
- Waiting list for intermediate stations; it clears independently of the general list and often moves more slowly.
- PQWL(Pooled Quota Waiting List)General explanation
- A shared quota across several short-distance stations; confirmation chances are usually lower.
- TatkalOfficial term
- A premium same-journey quota opened one day before departure for urgent travel, at a higher fare.
- Chart preparedOfficial term
- The passenger chart has been finalised (typically a few hours before departure). After this, status changes are limited.
- SL(Sleeper Class)Official term
- Non-air-conditioned sleeper coach with three-tier berths.
- 3A(AC 3-Tier)Official term
- Air-conditioned coach with three-tier berths.
- 2A(AC 2-Tier)Official term
- Air-conditioned coach with two-tier berths and privacy curtains.
- 1A(AC First Class)Official term
- Air-conditioned first class with lockable cabins; the most premium sleeping class.
- CC(AC Chair Car)Official term
- Air-conditioned seating coach used on day trains.
- 2S(Second Sitting)Official term
- Non-air-conditioned seating coach.
- EC(Executive Chair Car)Official term
- Premium air-conditioned chair car with wider seats, mostly on Shatabdi/Vande Bharat trains.
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