WL in Train? Know How to Continue Your Journey

By: Nish Kumar | onOctober 31, 2025

If you are looking to travel and find WL in train during booking, it makes you rethink. Moreover, even if you book a waitlisted ticket and it does not get confirmed, it can cause travel stress. In such a situation, you must know some crucial information to continue your train journey.

Therefore, read the information and use it for your last-minute travel. This Rail Info will assist you in dealing with the situation when a waitlisted ticket is not confirmed. It also informs about certain steps to avoid breaking train travel law.

Follow Simple Steps When WL in Train is not Confirmed

Before train travel, you must check your ticket status. It can inform you about a ticket’s current status like confirmed, waiting, or RAC. If you have a waitlisted ticket and it is not confirmed before train travel, it can increase your travel stress. So, always check the seat availability before booking and plan your travel accordingly.

If Booked an Online Ticket

You will get a refund against WL in train after chart preparation. Indian Railways refunds if the ticket status did not change from waitlisted to confirmed or RAC. IRCTC cancels the unconfirmed e-ticket. So, you should avoid travelling without a confirmed ticket. It can make you liable to pay a fine for travelling without a valid ticket.

If Booked from the Counter (PRS Ticket)

If your counter ticket is not confirmed after chart preparation, then you can travel in unreserved class. However, you can cancel your ticket on the PRS counter and get a refund for the same. You can also try an alternative using the RailMitra live station feature to get trains on the same route in the upcoming few hours.

How to Continue Your Journey When WL in Train?

If you are looking to get some tips to travel without a confirmed ticket, then follow these.

Case 1: You have a Counter Ticket with WL Status

If you have a counter ticket with a waiting status, then you can travel by train.
However, you are not allowed to travel in reserved coaches such as SL, AC, CC, or any others.
You are only allowed to travel in unreserved (general) coaches when PNR Status shows WL in train.

Case 2: You have an e-ticket with WL Status

If your waitlisted e-ticket is not confirmed after chart preparation, then it will automatically be cancelled. Indian Railways will refund your booking amount after imposing certain charges. However, you can still travel using the following method.

Step 1: Use Live Station

Check the Live Station Feature on the RailMitra train app. It will enlist the upcoming running trains between two specific stations in the next few hours. It can help last-minute travellers to plan train journeys and improve their travel experience.

Step 2: Check Seat Availability

Now, you have a list of certain trains running to your destination station. You can check the train seat availability in your preferred coach via RailMitra. It helps to find a train with available seats for your travel. You can avoid WL in train and find a train with available seats.

Step 3: Review Train Schedule

Once you find a train with certain available seats, you can check its timetable with RailMitra. You can use the train schedule to find the train route with travel time to reach your preferred destination. It helps in decision-making to finalise your train for the trip.

Step 4: Book a Train Ticket

After confirming the train with available seats, you can go ahead with booking a ticket. It will provide a confirmed seat and make your last-minute travel plan easier.

How to Check PNR Status with RailMitra Train App?

Check the steps below to find whether your ticket is confirmed or not after chart preparation.

Reach the RailMitra official website www.railmitra.com or download the mobile app from the Play Store or App Store.
Navigate to “PNR Status” and click on it.
Input your 10-digit PNR number provided after ticket booking and hit the “Check Status”.
It will provide details like train name with number, departure and destination station with time, seat number with coach, and other travel information.