Railway Doubt

[Thomas]

Hi all friends,

I have a long time doubt. When we reserve for a railway ticket say for a sleeper class it comes to WL70 lets say one week before the journey.

The WL number slowly improves.

Suddenly in the Last 2 days it moves little fast.

But on the last day after preparation of Chart it gets confirmed

Suddenly from WL25 comes to Confirmed position.

How is it possible?

Please Guys explain me.

Please give genuine reply.

What are the last minute cancellations?????

Where from the extra seats suddenly come from????

Please give genuine reply.

[Sharjeel]

That is because all the cancellations happen in the last few days, and even more cancellations happen in the last hours.



As to the reason why this happens, you will have to study probability, chaos theory, human tendency, etc.

[CtrlAltDel]

WL becomz RAC and then Confirmed, becoz of cancellation of tickets. thats it!



generally RAC status assures one of a seat, but it wud usually be in the uncomfortable (for me) "side upper" or "side lower" sections.

[Thomas]

Hi,

Still the doubt remains.

See, Exactly Four hours before the scheduled departure of the train the Chart get published.

Hi,

Did n t u understand?

Beleive me just 05 minutes before the Chart is published the WL IS 40.

Suddenly it becomes CONFIRMED.

Hence there is some factor which does this miracle.

I beleive some railway staff can explain this.

[CtrlAltDel]

Hi,
Still the doubt remains.
See, Exactly Four hours before the scheduled departure of the train the Chart get published.
Hi,
Did n t u understand?
Beleive me just 05 minutes before the Chart is published the WL IS 40.
Suddenly it becomes CONFIRMED.
Hence there is some factor which does this miracle.
I beleive some railway staff can explain this.

Doubting Thomas-bhai...maybe it is a miracle... aam khao, ped kyon ginte ho...?

[Sharjeel]

Beleive me just 05 minutes before the Chart is published the WL IS 40.
Suddenly it becomes CONFIRMED.

Dont think that so much of a swing is possible in 5 minutes.



There are 72 available seats in every bogey. They are given out on FCFS basis. There is a limited amount of RAC seats (e.g 10), after which any other passenger who wants a ticket will be assigned to the WL.



Maybe your ticket got confirmed because of a mass cancellation (it happens.) Think on a national scale; imagine how many cancellation may occur at any instant (due to the centralised reservation system).

[Thome]

mass cancellation (it happens.)

[Thome]

aam khao, ped kyon ginte ho...?

What does it mean?

[CtrlAltDel]

aam khao, ped kyon ginte ho...?

What does it mean?

literally: "Eat the mangoes, why count trees?"

figuratively: "enjoy the good luck...why bother abt howz and whyz of it"

[ycr007]

Hi,
Still the doubt remains.
See, Exactly Four hours before the scheduled departure of the train the Chart get published.
Hi,
Did n t u understand?
Beleive me just 05 minutes before the Chart is published the WL IS 40.
Suddenly it becomes CONFIRMED.
Hence there is some factor which does this miracle.
I beleive some railway staff can explain this.

I think I Know the Reason Behind this "miracle".....



In Selected Trains,72 Seats are Earmarked for Tatkal Ticketing.Tatkal Tickets are priced higher than th Normal Tickets and are meant for Last-Minute-Journeymans.Tatkal Ticketing Window is open till 4 Hours before the departure of the Train.Once the Time's Up,Initially the RAC Holders are Filled into the Unreserved Berths in the Tatkal Quota.And then the WL Holders are also assigned Berths if the Vacancy is still there.

That's Why you see even WL 40 Getting Confirmed.As the people Travelling by tatkal is Very Less (Due to the Higher Cost;Rs 150 more than Normal for Sleeper),invariably these seats will get to the WL/RAC holders.



In Case of Trains Not Having Tatkal Facility,if the WL Numbers are very High,Say 100+,One or Two Bogies are added to the Train,Esp if it is a Long-Distance Train.And the Seats Alloted.Thatz Why One gets to see S,11 S12 & S13 Bogies in Trains Normally Having Only upto S10.



Another Quite Valid Reason is that Travel Agents or Touts,more often than not,book bulk tickets under various names for 'Hot' Sectors.And People who see that Tickets are unavailable at the Rly Counter Head to the Travel Agents.These Agents Get them the tickets and that too in their names,Since most of them are in Cahoots with the Guys that Sit at the Reservation Counters.

But if No One Comes to them till the day before Departure or 4-5 Hrs Before the Train leaves,they Cancel en masse and Hence You get the Seats

[Sri]

I think there is some point with Thomas.

Last month, I had reserved for the Shalimar express from New Delhi to Jammu Tawi by AC two tier. The train starts at 1605 hrs. On that day, when I saw my position at around 1130 hrs, it was still pending with WL 18. After the preparation of chart, I tried anxiously at about 1300 hrs at an Internet cafe at Pahar Ganj. Unbelievably my ticket had been confirmed. So there must be some factor, which pushes the position.

Maybe the MLA, MP, special tickets.

[Sri]

Very well explained Mr Bond.

More valid points.

1)if the WL Numbers are very High,Say 100+,One or Two Bogies are added to the Train,Esp if it is a Long-Distance Train.And the Seats Alloted.Thatz Why One gets to see S,11 S12 & S13 Bogies in Trains Normally Having Only upto S10.
2)But if No One Comes to them till the day before Departure or 4-5 Hrs Before the Train leaves,they Cancel en masse and Hence You get the Seats

These are highly valuble points to ponder.



But please remember one point. Off late All express trains in India have Tatkal quota now a days. No identity proof is required nowadays.

[ycr007]

Very well explained Mr Bond.
More valid points.

1)if the WL Numbers are very High,Say 100+,One or Two Bogies are added to the Train,Esp if it is a Long-Distance Train.And the Seats Alloted.Thatz Why One gets to see S,11 S12 & S13 Bogies in Trains Normally Having Only upto S10.
2)But if No One Comes to them till the day before Departure or 4-5 Hrs Before the Train leaves,they Cancel en masse and Hence You get the Seats

These are highly valuble points to ponder.

But please remember one point. Off late All express trains in India have Tatkal quota now a days. No identity proof is required nowadays.

Yeah......

The Last 2-3 Travails of mine have been on Tatkal and they don't ask for any Proof Whatsoever......

But the Problem in Tatkal/RAC/WL Lies in the fact that (As CAD Already pointed Out) we Ultimately End up on the Side Lower/Upper Berths and I have to Sleep Side-on or With Legs Folded.

Pretty Uncomfortable

[The Jackal]

There is also EQ(Emergency Quota) for the VIP's.I think there must be 20 seats in EQ.So they usually get cancelled before the train's departure.

[ycr007]

There is also EQ(Emergency Quota) for the VIP's.I think there must be 20 seats in EQ.So they usually get cancelled before the train's departure.

but Those ill be in the AC II Tier & III Tier.No VIP would Like to Travel in Sleeper

[The Jackal]

There is also EQ(Emergency Quota) for the VIP's.I think there must be 20 seats in EQ.So they usually get cancelled before the train's departure.

but Those ill be in the AC II Tier & III Tier.No VIP would Like to Travel in Sleeper

Most of them wil be in AC but they will have room for gun men in Non-AC.

[CtrlAltDel]

EQ is not for VIPs...they are a special quota of tickets that railway officials have the power to sanction to anyone who applies. in hydbad, u have to approach any officer, middle level upwards, at Rail Nilayam. this is meant for emergencies but are being misused by anyone who is on "hello" terms with any Railway official.

[Sri]

But the Problem in Tatkal/RAC/WL Lies in the fact that (As CAD Already pointed Out) we Ultimately End up on the Side Lower/Upper Berths and I have to Sleep Side-on or With Legs Folded.

Good news,

This system has changed now.

Even Tatkal guys get Middle, Lower, and upper berths now a days.

I am holding a Tatkal ticket now, which is middle berth.

But the terrific point is you have to pay all the money FOR THE DISTANCE from the starting point of the train to the end point.

This is terrific news.

Even if you board at intermediate station you have to pay the full journey charges.

[ycr007]

But the Problem in Tatkal/RAC/WL Lies in the fact that (As CAD Already pointed Out) we Ultimately End up on the Side Lower/Upper Berths and I have to Sleep Side-on or With Legs Folded.

Good news,
This system has changed now.
Even Tatkal guys get Middle, Lower, and upper berths now a days.
I am holding a Tatkal ticket now, which is middle berth.
But the terrific point is you have to pay all the money FOR THE DISTANCE from the starting point of the train to the end point.
This is terrific news.
Even if you board at intermediate station you have to pay the full journey charges.

Yeah,Thatz True.....I meant the Saarting to End point Thing......

I've travelled on Tatkal 3-4 times in the past few months and in ALL cases,

I got the Side Berths But since all those journeys were Start to End,wasn't much of a loss for me.

Thatz one of the advantages of being in Hyderabad,which is a starting point for many trains.One has'nt got much choice if he/she stays in intermediate stations like Guntur or Vizianagaram

[CtrlAltDel]

But the terrific point is you have to pay all the money FOR THE DISTANCE from the starting point of the train to the end point.
This is terrific news.

"terrific"...? whats so terrific about this?

[Betty]

The main reason why the status changes during the last 4 hours before the departure of a train, other than cancellation, is that there are several quotas like defence, railways, medical, MP etc. tickets of which are not available to general public. The remaining unreserved tickets of these quotas are opened around 4 hours before the departure of the train, and so the number of available tickets increase.

[Sri]

"terrific"...?

I am earning in Rupees.



You may earn in Dollars.



Hare, wasting money is terrific for me.

[HH]

First WL ... At First Only about 70 PC Berths Are Confirmed ... The Balance Are For "Quota-Eswaras" ... MPs / MLAs / Rly Babus / Military / Out-Stations ... Mostly Side Seats / Berths ... Are for RAC ... Sometimes Even One Month Before One Is Blessed With WL ...



The First Status Remains So ... Even 48 Hours Before ... One "Knowing" May Apply & Get "Quotas" Released ...



Sudden "Windfall" Releases / Confirmations May Be The Result Of There Being No Demand for The Various Quotas


Due To Peak Season Traffic ... eg "Fish Medicine" Week Next Month @ 8 June ... One May Have To Go RAC ("Seated / Sleeping") OR WL And Hence DROPPED ... OR Go In UN-Reserved Hell!

[CtrlAltDel]

"terrific"...?

I am earning in Rupees.

You may earn in Dollars.

Hare, wasting money is terrific for me.

:lol:



terrific nai yaar...u mean 'terrible'! 'terrific' has a positive meaning



btw, i too earn in good ol' rupees

[Lucifer]

Actually CAD, Sri is not wrong. Check this link out:



http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=terrific



It is just that we are more attuned to hearing it spoken in the positive sense.