Check Your PNR Status – Complete Guide with Live and Accurate Results

By: Nish Kumar | onJanuary 2, 2026

You can only travel by Indian Railways if your PNR status is confirmed. Otherwise, you are not allowed to travel in reserved coaches. So, you must go through the complete guide to understand how to check your PNR live.

If you are a frequent traveler, then you must know that Indian Railways offers affordable travel options with scenic views in the route. Moreover, it also provides comfort with train dining options and all. So, check the full guide to find your train ticket status updates live for happy travel.

This Rail Info will explore the understanding, importance and process for PNR status check. It also explains the abbreviation used by the Indian Railway to show the ticket status. So, check the details and make your train journey more comfortable and interesting.

Complete Guide on PNR Status for Comfortable Train Journey

India has an extensive railway network that offers a convenient way for a large number of people to travel daily. It offers different classes according to comfort requirements for people. However, you can’t travel if your PNR status is waiting.

Reserved classes offer more comfort in comparison to unreserved classes. Therefore, people must book a train ticket according to their comfort requirements. However, Indian Railways only allows train travel in reserved coaches when you have a confirmed or RAC ticket.

You can use the train app like RailMitra that offers to check the IRCTC ticket status in just a few clicks. But before you can know the key details about PNR or ticket status to know how to get them.

What is Train PNR Status?

Many people may not have a clear understanding of the PNR. So, you must know that a PNR refers to the “Passenger Name Record” that tells the journey details. It includes statuses like RAC, CNF, WL with journey details. After booking a train ticket, Indian Railways offers a 10-digit PNR number that includes the following journey details.

Passenger Name with Age
Train name and number
Reservation Class (SL, 1AC, 2AC, 3AC and others)
Source and Destination Station
Journey Date
Booking Status and Current Status

What is the Importance of Train PNR Status?

It is important to check the ticket status before train travel due to the following reasons.

Find Ticket Confirmation: Many people need to book waitlisted tickets due to the unavailability of confirmed tickets. Therefore, you must check the ticket status whether it is confirmed, RAC or still waiting.
Journey Details: You can check the IRCTC PNR status to find travel details for a comfortable journey. It includes train name/number, travel date, boarding/destination time, seat number, and coach number.
Book Your Meals: You can also book your food in train from more than 2000 restaurants at 450+ stations. PNR confirmed status allows them to plan train dining to make journeys more comfortable.
Plan Alternatives: Checking the ticket status helps to find any alternatives like booking tatkal or premium tatkal, to continue travel.
Avoid Last-Minute Stress: Checking ticket status helps to avoid reaching the station without a valid seat or confirmed or RAC ticket status.

How to check PNR status of train?

Train travelers can follow simple steps to check PNR with RailMitra in just a few clicks.

Step 1: Visit the RailMitra official website or download the mobile app.
Step 2: Navigate to the “PNR Status” available on the homepage and click on it.
Step 3: Input your 10-digit PNR Number and click the check status tab.

It will provide your journey details from the train number to the boarding/destination time.

Indian Railways Abbreviation Used When You Check PNR

You can find short names or codes when you check your PNR status 10 digit to know ticket updates. So, go through the following codes to understand your ticket status properly.

CNF: Confirmed. You can travel on the allotted berth. So, check thetrain schedule and reach your boarding station on time.
RAC: Reservation Against Cancellation. You can travel on a shared seat with a co-passenger until or unless there are cancellations.
WL: Waitlisted: If your ticket status is WL even after chart preparation, then you are not allowed to travel in the reserved class. However, you can travel in an unreserved class with an unreserved ticket.
GNWL: General Waitlist. It has a higher probability to get confirmed in comparison to the WL status.
RLWL: Remote Location Waitlist. It shows when booking is done from the intermediate stations and can only confirm when a confirmed ticket is canceled from that location.
PQWL: Pooled Quota Waitlist. It has a lower chance of confirmation in comparison to others.

You can also read: WL in Train? Know How to Continue Your Journey

How to Know PNR is confirmed?

You can frequently check your ticket status, but can be confirmed once final chart preparation is done. So, check when the chart is prepared by Indian Railways to find the final PNR status and plan your journey.

First Chart Preparation

There is a change in the chart preparation time in Indian Railways effective from 10th July 2025, that is following.

The first chart will prepare by 09:00 PM for the train that originates between 05:00 AM and 02:00 PM the next day (previously it was done 04 hours earlier).
The first chart will prepare 8 hours before the scheduled departure for trains with an originating time between 02:00 PM to 05:00 AM.

Second Chart Preparation

There is no change in the second or final chart preparation for now.

The second chart preparation will be done 30 minutes before the departure time.

How is PNR Prediction Different from PNR Status?

There is a huge difference between the PNR confirmation chance and status.

PNR Prediction

Unofficial information.
The estimated data presents probability.
PNR status prediction may result differently from what was predicted.
Does not offer seat details.
Done based on historical data or information.

IRCTC PNR Status

Official information available from the Indian Railways.
Real-time information has confirmation.
100% accurate and goes with it.
Offers seat details.
Done with real-time data or information.

So, always ensure your ticket status is either confirmed or RAC before reaching the boarding station. Moreover, follow summer or winter essential packing tips for a comfortable journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the PNR status in train ticket?

Ans. You can find a 10-digit number on your train ticket that includes journey details. It shows information like train name with number, coach name with number with arrival/destination time with station code.

Q2. How can I check train ticket status live?

Ans. You can use the RailMitra train app feature “PNR Status” to check your ticket status. You just need to enter your 10-digit PNR number to get the latest updates.

Q3. Can I travel if my PNR status is RAC?

Ans. Yes, you can travel legally with a shared seat when the ticket status is RAC. However, you can get a confirmed seat when a confirmed ticket is cancelled.

Q4. What happens if my ticket status is WL after chart preparation?

Ans. No individual is allowed to travel with a waitlist ticket. Your e-ticket will automatically be cancelled, and the PRS (counter) ticket needs to be cancelled at the PRS counter.

Q5. Does PNR status change after chart preparation?

Ans. Ticket status can change only if the first chart preparation is done, but the final chart is not prepared. There is no change in ticket status after final or second chart preparation.