Check PNR Status

PNR Status gives us, the train name and number, boarding date and a class of travel, from the station and to the station, boarding station and reservation up-to, number of passengers, coach position (shows when a train arrives at station otherwise shows blank), total fare, chart status (chart prepared or chart not prepared), train running status, booking, and current status information.

The full form of PNR is Passenger Name Record; it is a unique ten-digit number, which is allocated to every train ticket booked from Indian railways. Every train ticket has a PNR number, whether you have booked a ticket online through IRCTC or physically at the PRS counter. A single PNR no. can include up to six passengers in case of the group booking.

The CRIS (Center of Railway Information Systems) runs a centralized database where all the information about passengers is stored. The system automatically generates a unique ten-digit PNR number every time a person buys an Indian Railways ticket whether online through the official IRCTC website or any other travel website or at PRS ticket counters. The generated PNR no. remains valid till the end of the trip and after a certain interval of time old PNR is flushed out of the CRIS database.

There are many ways through which, passengers can enquire about their ticket PNR status. The most popular ways are listed below:

• Online: Type your 10-digit PNR number in the search box present at the top of this webpage. Click on the "Check PNR Status" button and you will get to know the current status of your PNR.
• SMS: Indian railway has initiated a text-messaging service for PNR status enquiry to boost customer satisfaction. If a passenger does not have an internet connection, in that case, he or she benefited from this service. To get the updated status of their reservation passenger needs to send a text SMS in the below-given format. Type "PNR space (your PNR number)" e.g. PNR 1234567899 and send it to 139. Before using the SMS service, please keep in mind that carrier charges would apply for SMS service as per your network operator.
• Mobile App: You can get the live PNR status update on your corresponding Mobile device using Indian Train or IRCTC App. These applications are available in Google Play or the Apple store.
• Phone Calls: Dial 139 from your mobile device, when connected with the Indian Railways telephonic helpline service, you would hear a few instructions offered by IVR. Follow those instructions to get your live PNR status updates.
• Railway Enquiry Counter at Railway Stations: This is an offline and traditional way for PNR enquiry. It is time-consuming and you would surely not love to go with this method but when all the above online and telephonic services don't work out for you, you may opt for this traditional way to get your railway PNR status updates.

If your ticket is on the waiting list, its status is frequently updated to lower waiting lists or confirmed when people cancel their tickets. This process is real-time and that is why you should check PNR status more often on this webpage. Besides, you can install Indian Train App on your handheld device to get an update of your ticket status regularly.

Generally, the PNR number is printed at the top left corner of the I-Ticket purchased from the railway's PRS counter. In the case of E-Ticket, which is reserved online through IRCTC or any other travel web portal is printed at the top in a separate column.

Usually, the PNR number gets flushed after a few days of the end journey date but remains in the CRS system, but after 9 months it gets flushed permanently. CRS can generate this same PNR no after a period of 12 months.

No, one can't get these details when checking railway PNR status live on Indian railway or any other portal due to privacy concerns, but a person who has reserved an e-ticket through IRCTC can see these details by logging into his/her account.

If a person has reserved an e-ticket and somehow forgets to take the print of that ticket but memorize the PNR number then there will be no issue, if he/she carries a valid id proof. He can also show text SMS received from IRCTC in place of a printout. If a passenger does not have both SMS and printout out then a penalty of ₹ 50 will be charged by TTE. In case of an I-ticket/counter ticket, the passenger needs to carry the ticket as well as valid id proof. Anyhow, if the passenger lost the ticket but remembered the PNR number, then one can request the duplicate ticket from a nearby PRS counter.

RAC (Reservation against Cancellation), when your ticket shows this status it means you will get to travel in your chosen class but you have to satisfy yourself only by sitting facility. You will get a side lower berth, which you will have to share with your co-passenger. If you are lucky enough, you might get a complete seat due to the last-minute cancellation of tickets. TTE may also allocate you a seat if vacant seats are available.

If your ticket was on the waiting list at the time of reservation and now it is confirmed then you will get your seat and bogie number after the chart preparation. Normally chart is prepared 4 hours before the train commences its journey from the source station. You can have your seat and coach number simply by:

• Calling 139, when prompted dial 1 and finally enter your 10-digit PNR no to get your ticket details.
• Sending text SMS to 139 in this format: PNR (space)(Your 10-digit PNR no) e.g. PNR 1342567890
• Checking live PNR status on mobile apps or websites.

Yes, if a person has opted for up-gradation while reserving a railway ticket then the railway can upgrade the ticket of that passenger if vacant seats are available in a higher class to provide alternate accommodation. So, while checking Indian railway PNR status when you find out that your seat is in AC coach despite booking in sleeping class, do not panic but consider yourself a lucky one.

The train is canceled only under inevitable circumstances. Passengers can check PNR status live on Indian Train to find whether the train is canceled or not. In such cases, passenger having e-ticket does not need to file TDR, their tickets automatically get canceled and the entire booking amount is credited back to their account. However, in the case of an I-ticket, you need to cancel the ticket at a nearby railway station up to 72 hours after the scheduled departure of the train.