RLWL Means in Railway: Full Form, Status and Confirmation Chances
Passengers who are looking to book a train ticket for short journeys often encounter this code: RLWL. Many people wonder, what does RLWL means in Railway and what does it mean for their journeys. Confusion is never good for any mode of journey.
Therefore in this blog we will dive deeper into what RLWL means in IRCTC, how does this status affect passenger’s journeys, how to check it online, comparison with other statuses and also the ticket confirmation chances related to it. So, sit back, relax and understand as well explain to you the meaning of RLWL status in trains.
What Does RLWL Means in Railway
RLWL means in Railway or simply RLWL full form in railways comes out to be Remote Location Waiting List. RLWL is one of the many Waiting List quotas in IRCTC. This quota is provided to the passengers, when they are trying to book tickets for intermediate stations.
RLWL does not cover the journeys between the source and the final station. For journeys between Source and Final station, passengers are allotted GNWL(General Waiting List) status. For RLWL Status it is necessary for the passenger to book intermediate stations.
RLWL is a type of Waiting List quota and does not insure Seat Confirmation. Even the chances of confirmation is lower than that of GNWL, as the size of RLWL quota is smaller for intermediate trains.
RLWL Means in Train Ticket Booking
To understand what RLWL means in train ticket booking, we need to use an example. Suppose we need to book a ticket on a train that runs from Patna to Mumbai. However, instead of the whole journey, I need to go from, let’s say, Ara to Prayagraj Junction.
If the tickets are not available for my journey, then I would be awarded RLWL Status in train. I would get RLWL status, instead of the more common GNWL, as I didn’t pick the Source (Patna) and Final (Mumbai) station but rather choose intermediate stations of Ara and Prayagraj.
Indian Railways keeps a separate quota for passengers looking to go for intermediate train journeys. This quota is actually what RLWL means in Railway.
How does RLWL Status affect Passengers
RLWL Status directly affects the passengers, as RLWL is not the same as a Confirmed Status. Here is how RLWL Status affects the passengers:
- Boarding is not allowed with RLWL in train
- RLWL tickets must be Confirmed for boarding
- If the train chart has been prepared, but the RLWL status has not been Confirmed, the ticket get cancelled automatically, if booked online
- For online tickets, even the refund amount is processed automatically
- For offline tickets, you need to visit the counter for Cancellation
Passengers who are unaware of this fact about RLWL in train might remain confused. They might be thinking that their journey is set, as they have booked the ticket and also the amount has been deducted from their bank accounts. However, train journeys largely depend on the status of your booking. Make sure that you ticket says Confirmed, before you set to board the train.
How to Check RLWL Status in Train
You can easily check the RLWL Status in train or for any other booking status, using RailMitra’s PNR Status check services. You can access this service at RailMitra website, RailMitra.com or the train application available on Android as well as iOS.
- Go to RailMitra.com or install the application
- Select PNR Status option
- Enter your 10-digit PNR Number
- Hit Check Status button
Your current PNR Status or RLWL Status in train would be displayed on your screen.
Which is better: GNWL, TQWL, RLWL and PQWL
Indian Railways has multiple categories of Waiting List statuses. Here’s a comparative look at these waiting list status options.
| Status Code | Full Form | Priority | Chances of Confirmation |
| GNWL | General Waiting List | Highest | Very High |
| TQWL | Tatkal Waiting List | Medium | Moderate |
| RLWL | Remote Location Waiting List | Low | Low |
| PQWL | Pooled Quota Waiting List | Very Low | Lowest |
RLWL Ticket Confirmation Chances
As explained in the previous section, the RLWL ticket confirmation chances lies slightly above PWQL but lags behind other Waiting List status like GNWL and TQWL. Even within the RLWL quota, there are multiple factors that can affect the ticket confirmation chances. Let’s take a look:
- Initial RLWL number: When you get RLWL status in train, it is usually followed by a number. For example, RLWL 5. This means that 5 people are ahead of your in the RLWL queue for confirmation. Therefore this number also reflects your chances of confirmation. For RLWL1-5, chances of confirmation are high. For RLWL 6-10 confirmation chances are moderate while for RLWL 10 or more, confirmation is very difficult.
- Distance between the chosen stations: Distance between the Boarding and Departure station also plays a role in RLWL ticket confirmation chances. If the distance between them is larger, then so are the confirmation chances. This is because longer journeys have larger quota of seats, thus higher chances of Confirmation.
- Number of Cancellations: RLWL ticket confirmation chances also depend on how many passengers with confirmed tickets cancel their booking. If this happens, the passenger with a RLWL or other waiting list categories might have their booking confirmed.
- Occasion or Events: During high stress times like a big festival or other important event, passengers flock towards the railway station. Such an untimely hike in passenger behaviour might derail ticket confirmation chances of RLWL status.
Important Tips for Passengers with RLWL Status
Here are some of the tips for passengers with RLWL status:
- Use the Vikalp Scheme. This scheme provides alternative travel options for passengers with a Waiting List ticket.
- Check PNR Status regularly for tracking live updates related to your booking.
- If it has been multiple dates and your booking status is not moving, try to look for alternative travel options. You can use the train schedule service to check all the available trains and pick the best one for your journey.
- If possible, avoid depending only on RLWL status, especially during the times of festivals and holidays.
- You must check train seat availability before making any new reservations
Conclusion
Now that you know what RLWL means in Railway, you can now take more informed and better decisions. The RLWL full form only tells about the Intermediate stations for which this status is applied. However, the internal hierarchy of waiting list is much more complex.
We saw how RLWL fared when compared to other booking status. We also got to know how a confirmed booking is the most coveted railway booking status. Therefore, the next time you book a train ticket, you will have a wider perspective and also know which status mean what in Indian Railways.
FAQs for RLWL Means in Railway
Q: Does RLWL ticket get confirmed?
A: Yes, RLWL ticket might get confirmed sometimes, but the chances are pretty low for this status.
Q: Which one is better, WL or RLWL?
A: GNWL is much better than RLWL.
Q: Will RLWL get converted to RAC?
A: No. RLWL will not get converted to RAC. RLWL tickets can either get Confirmed or Cancelled. RAC is reserved exclusively for GNWL status passengers.
Q: What is RLWL 1 in train?
A: RLWL 1 in train means that you are the first one in line to get ticket confirmation.
Q: Can I travel with RLWL ticket ?
A: No you cannot travel with an RLWL ticket, unless and until it gets confirmed.
Q: Is RLWL valid after chart preparation?
A: No, if RLWL does not get confirmed after chart preparation, it is not valid. Waiting List tickets are automatically cancelled when booked online while offline tickets need to be cancelled at the counter.
Q: How to avoid getting RLWL tickets?
A: Choose Source and final stations instead of in between stations, Book tickets early and must check train seat availability once before booking.