Check PNR Status

Enter your 10-digit PNR number to check live booking status

Your PNR number is on your ticket or in your IRCTC booking confirmation email

How to Check PNR Status

Every Indian Railways reserved ticket has a unique 10-digit PNR (Passenger Name Record) number printed on the top-left corner of your ticket or e-ticket. This number tracks your booking from reservation to journey completion. You can use it to check whether your ticket is confirmed, on RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), or waitlisted.

TrainWhen fetches your PNR status in real time. Simply enter your 10-digit PNR number above and the status loads automatically — no button click needed. You'll see the train number, journey date, class, boarding and destination stations, chart preparation status, and the current status of each passenger on the ticket.

Understanding PNR Status Results

  • Confirmed (CNF): Your seat/berth is confirmed. The coach and berth number shown is your assigned seat. No further action needed.
  • RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation): You have a shared berth — two passengers share one side-lower berth. RAC tickets usually get confirmed as other passengers cancel. You can board the train with an RAC ticket.
  • Waitlist (WL): You do not have a confirmed seat yet. The number after WL (e.g., WL#5) indicates your position in the queue. As passengers ahead of you cancel, your ticket moves towards RAC and then confirmed. If your ticket remains waitlisted after chart preparation (usually 4 hours before departure), it gets automatically cancelled and the fare is refunded.
  • Chart Prepared: Once the reservation chart is prepared (typically 4 hours before train departure), your final status is locked. No further changes occur. If you're still on the waitlist after chart preparation, the ticket is cancelled.

When to Check PNR Status

Check your PNR status periodically as the journey date approaches. The most important check is after chart preparation (usually 4 hours before departure). Before chart preparation, the status can change as other passengers cancel or modify their bookings. After chart preparation, the status is final — confirmed passengers get their exact coach and berth numbers.

For waitlisted tickets, the best time to check is 2–3 days before departure. Statistically, most cancellations happen in the last 48 hours before departure, especially for long-distance trains. If your waitlist number is within the range of typical cancellations for your class and route, there's a good chance of confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I board with a waitlisted ticket?

No. Only confirmed and RAC passengers are allowed to board. Waitlisted tickets are automatically cancelled after chart preparation if not confirmed.

How often does PNR status change?

Status updates in real time as cancellations are processed. However, the biggest changes happen during chart preparation, when all pending modifications are finalised at once.

Where do I find my PNR number?

Your PNR is printed on the top-left of your physical ticket. For e-tickets, it's in the booking confirmation SMS/email from IRCTC and is also visible in your IRCTC booking history.