RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation)

The full form of RAC is Reservation Against Cancellation. You may get an RAC ticket when confirmed berths are no longer available for your selected train, travel class, journey and booking quota, but RAC accommodation is still available. 

If you get an RAC ticket:

• You are allowed to board and travel on the train.

• You get a reserved seating accommodation on the train.

• You may not get a full berth initially.

In short, a RAC ticket allows you to board the train and complete your journey, even if you do not have a full berth at the time of booking. This makes RAC different from a waitlisted ticket, where you cannot board the train if the e-ticket stays fully waitlisted after chart preparation.

As mentioned earlier, with RAC in train bookings, you may not get a full berth at first. Here’s how RAC berths work: 

• Berth Sharing: You generally share one side-lower berth with another RAC passenger until you get a full berth.
• Seat Upgrade After Cancellation: If a confirmed passenger cancels, you may get the vacant full berth based on your RAC position.
• Confirmation Priority: RAC confirmation is determined by the priority sequence. This means a passenger with RAC 5 will get priority over one with RAC 10 and so on.
• Confirmation During the Journey: You may also get a full berth if a confirmed passenger does not board the train.
• Travelling When RAC Remains RAC: If your ticket is not confirmed, you can still travel with your shared RAC berth.

The difference between waitlist, confirmed, and RAC tickets mainly comes down to whether you can travel and what type of seat or berth you get. 

Here’s a quick comparison you can check to see how these ticket status categories differ:

You can check your RAC ticket status on the redRail app using the 10-digit PNR number on your train ticket. Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the redRail app or visit the redBus website and go to ‘Train Tickets’.
Step 2: Scroll to the ‘Check PNR Status’ option.

Step 3: Enter your 10-digit PNR number.

Step 4: Click ‘Check Status’.

Step 5: Check your latest RAC ticket status displayed on the screen.

The number shown after RAC tells you your position in the RAC queue. For example, if your booking status was RAC 10 and your current status is RAC 5, you have moved five places up the queue. If your status changes to CNF, your ticket has been confirmed.

Your RAC train ticket can get confirmed when a full berth becomes available because another passenger cancels their confirmed ticket. This can happen before the reservation chart is prepared, after charting, or during your journey:

• Before the First Chart: Most RAC movement happens before the first chart is prepared. For most trains, this is around 8 hours before departure. For trains leaving from 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the first chart is prepared by 9:00 PM on the previous day.
• After the First Chart: Your RAC status can still change if more berths become free. A second reservation chart is prepared 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure.
• During the Journey: If a confirmed passenger does not board or a berth becomes free, the TTE may allot it to an RAC passenger according to RAC priority.

RAC confirmation chances are generally higher than those for WL tickets. RAC tickets are given priority when it comes to confirmation. Typically, RAC confirmation chances are very high for:

• RAC tickets with a low number: A passenger with a lower number, such as RAC 5, has a better chance of RAC ticket confirmation than one who is RAC 50.
• Trains with lower passenger demand: Less crowded trains may have better chances of a full berth becoming available.
• Off-peak travel dates: RAC train bookings on regular weekdays may have a higher chance of confirmation than on weekends, festivals, or holidays.

You can cancel an unused RAC ticket and get a refund, but you must do so within a specific time window. Additionally, RAC ticket cancellation charges will be deducted from the amount you paid.

Remember these things about RAC ticket cancellation charges:

• Cancelling up to 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure: A RAC ticket cancellation charge of ₹60/passenger (+GST) will be deducted before refunding the remaining amount. 

• Less than 30 minutes before departure: You will not get a refund on an RAC ticket.

• RAC ticket confirmed by final chart preparation: In this case, cancellation rules and refund rules for confirmed tickets will apply.

Also note that for e-tickets, you have to file an online TDR up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure time. Otherwise, no refund will be issued. If Indian Railways cancels the train, no RAC ticket cancellation charges apply, and no TDR filing is needed.

If you want to avoid RAC in train bookings, try using these simple tips to get a confirmed ticket:

• Book early: Booking in advance can improve your chances of getting a confirmed ticket instead of staying in the RAC ticket queue.

• Check nearby dates: If your RAC confirmation chances look low, check trains a day before or after your planned journey.

• Try another train: Look for other trains on the same route that may have confirmed berths available.

• Check another class: If there are only RAC tickets for one ticket class, check whether another class has confirmed berths.

• Check Nearby Stations: Seat availability can differ depending on your boarding and destination stations, so check nearby stations where possible.

If you already have an RAC ticket, remember to check your PNR status regularly to see whether your RAC ticket confirmation status has changed. Checking your status can help you plan better.