PNR Status : FAQ

Q : What is PNR number and how it is generated?
A : PNR Number in Indian Railways denotes Passenger Name Record which provides us a complete travel information relating to the ticket and is known as PNR Number.
PNR status includes information such as the booking status in which it states whether the ticket has been Confirmed or on the Waiting List or Reservation Against Cancellation.
PNR status contains the information regarding the coach number, seat number and the amount of fare paid including many other details of the passenger.

Q : What does PNR number include?
A : PNR Number includes Passenger Details such as Name, Age, Sex, Birth Preference etc.
First Three Digits of the PNR tell us from which Passenger Reservation System the ticket has been booked.
Last seven digits are randomly generated numbers.
It Includes Ticket Details such as Train Number, Travel Date, From Station, To Station, Boarding Station, Reservation Upto, Class, Berth, Quota etc.
Also Includes Transaction & Payment Details such as Transaction ID, Payment Mode, Ticket Charge etc.

Q : Where is PNR number on ticket?
A : PNR number is mentioned at the top left corner on the ticket of the Indian Railways with passengers that are also available at the Railway Station Booking Window.
On the E - Ticket provided by the Indian Railways, the PNR number is stated at top of the ticket in a separate area.

Q : How to check PNR status Online?
A : You can check IRCTC PNR Status of the Indian Railway tickets at RailSuvidha PNR Status.
Also the PNR status can be checked at Every Railway station, where PNR status checking counters are available.

Q : How to check PNR status with Mobile SMS?
A : You can use the SMS Service provided by the Indian railways.You have to just SMS "PNR <10 Digit-PNR>" to "139".

Q : How to enquire PNR status with Mobile Phone?
A : You can call on the Railway Enquiry Number which is "139".

Q : What are codes of PNR Status and Seat Availability used by the Indian Railways?
A : Codes which are used by Indian Railways for reservation status.You need to understand them :-
CNF : (Confirm) - The passenger seat has been confirmed and it will be allotted after chart is prepared.
RAC : (Reservation Against Cancellation) - The passenger is allowed to travel on the train but two passengers share the same berth.
WL : (Waiting List) - The passenger is not allowed to board the train.
GNWL : (General Waiting List) - The Ticket gets confirmed after other passenger cancel their confirmed seat booking.
TQWL : (Tatkal Waiting List) - When a passenger books tatkal ticket and is on the waiting list.
PQWL : (Pooled Quota Waiting List) - Passengers traveling between intermediate stations and having a separate waiting list from the general waiting list of the passengers.
RQWL : (Remote Quota Waiting List) - The Railway Ticket has the high chances of confirmation.
RLWL : (Remote Location Waiting List) - Smaller stations have separate quota of seats.
CAN : (Cancelled) - The passenger seat has been cancelled by the Indian Railways.
NOSB : (No Seat Berth) - Children below 12 years of age pay child fare and the seats are not allotted to them.

Q : Why do the passengers get Error of Please try later?
A : The following reasons could be responsible:-
1 - When the passenger entered an incorrect or invalid PNR number.
2 - When the Travel date is already in the Past and PNR Number has been extinguished.
3 - When the Indian Railways server is down or overloaded.

Q : How does PNR work?
A : Centre of Railway Information System maintains information about the passengers travelling on the Indian Railways.
It creates 10-digit PNR number every time when a person buys a Railway ticket.
In Group booking, a single PNR number can have a maximum of six passengers.

Q : What is the validity of the PNR Number?
A : PNR Number become invalid or useless after the completion of the Train journey.
And also the PNR details may not be available to the public once the journey gets completed for privacy and security concerns of passengers.