What is a PNR Number?
A PNR number is a 10-digit number which stands for ‘Passenger Name Record’. It is a unique number that is assigned to every booked train ticket on the Indian Railways.
- This 10-digit number contains passenger records such as the passenger's name, age, sex, and berth preference.
- It also encapsulates ticket details, including the train number, date of journey, origin/source station, destination station, boarding station, class, berth, quota, as well as fare, transaction type, and payment details.
How to Check PNR Status?
Following are the different ways to check the PNR status:
- Check PNR status on the ixigo website: Go to the trains page on the ixigo website and select 'PNR Status Enquiry'. In the designated field, enter your 10-digit PNR number and click on the 'Search' button. Your IRCTC PNR status will be displayed immediately, and you can check whether your ticket is confirmed (CNF), in the RAC list, or on the waiting list (WL).
- Check PNR status on the ixigo mobile app: If you are using the ixigo mobile app to perform a PNR check, then just tap on the ‘PNR Status’ icon, enter your 10-digit PNR number and complete your PNR enquiry.
- Check PNR status using the SMS service: A convenient method for checking the PNR status with the Indian Railways is by using their SMS service. Simply send your PNR number via SMS to 139, and you will receive a prompt response regarding your PNR status.
- Check through the railway enquiry number (Call 139): You can complete the PNR status check for railway tickets by calling the railway enquiry number, 139. When you call, select the ‘PNR Enquiry’ option on the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to inquire about your railway PNR status.
- Check the final reservation charts: You can opt to check PNR status 10 digit by referring to the final reservation chart displayed at the railway station. However, for this, you need to wait until a few hours before the train's departure, which may not be practical in some situations.
- Visit railway enquiry counters at the railway station: You can also check PNR status by visiting the railway station enquiry counters in person.
- Check PNR status through IRCTC website: Visit the IRCTC website and click on the ‘PNR Status’ tab. Select ‘PNR Enquiry’ and enter your 10-digit PNR. Press the ‘Submit’ button and you’ll get the desired information.
PNR Status Enquiry on the Mobile App
Use the PNR Status Live Check Mobile feature and get notified as soon as your waitlisted train ticket status gets confirmed. We will provide the current 10 digit PNR status check for railway tickets along with passenger and train details – Your reservation booking status, platform number, coach position, berth number, berth type and more.
On ixigo, you can also check PNR status in Hindi (पीएनआर स्टेटस पूछताछ).
The IRCTC train ticket booking system provides CNF (Confirmed) and RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) status when tickets are available, and the bookings made after that are provided waitlisted status. Waitlisted tickets get confirmed in order only if any of the CNF/RAC tickets gets cancelled. When you have a waitlisted ticket, tracking IRCTC PNR status live becomes necessary.
Know more in detail about how to check train PNR status online.
Check PNR Status Via SMS
You can send a text to the Indian Railways number ‘139’ for the PNR enquiry. Just type the 10-digit number (without hyphen) and send it to ‘139’. You can also send an SMS to ‘5676747.’ You will get the updated PNR information in your phone inbox. Know more in detail about how to check PNR via SMS.
Types of IRCTC PNR Status
| CNF | The ticket status shows as CNF when seats are confirmed. |
| RAC | It stands for Reservation Against Cancellation meaning the train ticket has a confirmed seat but waitlisted berth. If the tickets are booked under RAC status, then the allocated berth has to be split into two seats. |
| CAN | It means cancelled i.e. ticket has been cancelled. |
| WL | Waiting List is a ticket status that gets confirmed only if the passengers on the same train who have booked before you cancel their tickets. |
| GNWL | It stands for General Waiting List. The probability of this ticket status getting confirmed is very high. |
| PQWL | Pooled Quota Waiting List status is issued when a passenger is travelling from the origin station to a station short of the last station, or from an intermediate station to the last station, or between any two intermediate stations. |
| RLWL | Remote Location Waiting List means a ticket has been issued to a passenger for intermediate stations (between the origin and terminating station). These intermediate stations are usually the most important towns on the route in particular. |
| TQWL | It means Tatkal Quota Waiting List. This is the waiting list for tatkal tickets booking. The tickets in Tatkal get confirmed directly, instead of going through RAC. However during chart preparation, GNWL is preferred over TQWL. |
| NOSB | It stands for No Seat Berth which means journey is allowed without a seat. This is allotted to child passengers below age 11 years. |
If you are not able to get a confirmed ticket, check seat availability in other trains.
PNR Confirmation Probability and Prediction
PNR confirmation probability means the chances of getting a train ticket status confirmed if the current status is "Not Available". When all the confirmed and RAC tickets are sold out, the Indian Railway assigns a waitlisted ticket for further bookings made on the respective train and class. The confirmation probability of railway PNR status for these waitlisted tickets depends upon the cancellations of confirmed and RAC tickets only. It also relies on factors like weekends, seasons, festivals, and special events, among other factors. Once your ticket is confirmed, check train running status.
You can use the PNR prediction feature on the ixigo app, and check the chances of your waitlisted tickets getting confirmed. PNR prediction helps you in making a smart travel decision.
PNR Status Enquiry Quick Facts
| What is PNR in e-ticket? | Passenger Name Record |
| Length of PNR no. | PNR Status 10 Digits (Only Numeric form) |
| Meaning of first 3 digits of your PNR | Passenger Reservation System, usually referred to as PRS, from which the ticket has been booked. |
| Meaning of last 7 digits of your PNR | The last seven digits are randomly generated by the system. |
| Validity period of a PNR number | A PNR number is valid for 9 months after which it is flushed. The same PNR number can be generated after a year. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Where is the PNR number printed on a train ticket?
Q. What are the benefits of a PNR Number?
Q. For how many days can we check the PNR Status?
Q. What happens if my railway PNR remains waitlisted after chart preparation?
Q. How to check your PNR status directly from your mobile?
- Type "PNR (10-digit PNR)" and send it to 139
- Type "PNR (10-digit PNR)" and send it to 5676747
