Trains
The city and country are connected.
Search Indian Railways trains between any two stations, compare classes and quotas, and see each ticket’s real status: confirmed, RAC or waitlisted.
Train search · Indian Railways
Rail booking, the essentials
Tickets are issued through an authorised IRCTC ticketing arrangement under Indian Railways rules. InfiniaTrips is not IRCTC or Indian Railways, and we never present our own estimate as an official status.
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Booking window
Reservations currently open 60 days ahead, not counting the journey date. The window has changed before, so we always show the live date.
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Tatkal
Opens one day before the journey date at the originating station: 10:00 for AC classes, 11:00 for non-AC.
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Chart preparation
Final berth allocation happens when the reservation chart is prepared, some hours before departure.
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ID on board
At least one passenger on each e-ticket carries an original government photo ID during the journey.
Class guide
Eight classes, one plain guide.
Indian Railways class codes appear on every search result and ticket. Here is what each one means on board, and when it tends to be the right choice.
| Code | Class | What it is | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | First AC | Air-conditioned sleeper with lockable two-berth coupés and four-berth cabins. The most private class, found on selected long-distance and premium trains. | Overnight journeys where privacy and a closing door matter. |
| 2A | AC 2 Tier | Open bays of four berths in two tiers plus two side berths, each berth with its own curtain. | Restful overnight travel with more headroom than three-tier; popular with older travellers. |
| 3A | AC 3 Tier | Bays of six berths in three tiers (lower, middle, upper) plus two side berths. | The everyday choice for AC overnight travel on mail, express, Rajdhani and Duronto routes. |
| 3E | AC 3 Economy | A newer, more compact AC three-tier coach with more berths per coach and slightly tighter spacing than 3A. | Lower-cost AC overnight travel on trains that carry these coaches. |
| CC | AC Chair Car | Reserved reclining seats in an air-conditioned coach, typically three and two across the aisle. | Daytime intercity hops on Shatabdi, Vande Bharat and many day expresses. |
| EC | Executive Chair Car | Wider reclining seats, typically two and two across, with more legroom than CC. | Business day trips and the most comfortable seated journeys. |
| SL | Sleeper | Non-AC coach with three-tier and side berths, fans and opening windows. No bedding is supplied. | Economical overnight travel, most comfortable in milder months. |
| 2S | Second Sitting | Non-AC reserved seating, usually on bench-style seats. | Short daytime journeys at the lowest reserved fare. |
Bedding is supplied in AC sleeper classes on most trains. Coach layouts vary by train and rake; a class is not offered on every train.
PNR & booking status
Confirmed means confirmed. Waitlisted means waitlisted.
Every booking carries a PNR, and each passenger on it has a status of their own. We report that status exactly as the reservation system gives it, before and after the chart is prepared.
- A waitlisted or RAC passenger is never shown as confirmed.
- We do not call a waitlist “likely to clear” unless we can show how that estimate was made.
- You see both the status at booking and the current status, side by side.
PNR 000-0000000 · Sample
New Delhi → Howrah · 3A
- Passenger 1 CNF CNF · B2 · 34 · Lower
- Passenger 2 RAC RAC 7 · now RAC 3
- Passenger 3 WL GNWL 24 · now GNWL 11
Chart not yet prepared · statuses can still change
CNF Confirmed
What it means. A seat or berth is reserved for this passenger. The coach and berth number usually appear at booking; on some trains they are allotted when the chart is prepared.
What you can do. Travel as booked with your ID. If the coach number changes at chart time, your trip hub shows the updated position.
RAC Reservation Against Cancellation
What it means. You are allowed to board and have a place to sit, but not yet a full berth. Two RAC passengers typically share one side-lower berth until a cancellation frees a berth for one of them.
What you can do. You may travel. If berths free up after the chart, the on-board ticket examiner can allot one. We show RAC as RAC, never as confirmed.
WL Waitlisted
What it means. There is no seat or berth yet. Your position moves up as others cancel. The waitlist type (GNWL, RLWL, PQWL or TQWL) affects how readily it clears.
What you can do. If an e-ticket is still fully waitlisted after the chart is prepared, it is cancelled automatically and the fare is refunded, less the applicable clerkage charge. A fully waitlisted e-ticket does not allow you to board.
Quotas
Who each block of berths is held for.
Indian Railways holds parts of each train’s capacity in quotas. Choose the quota that applies to you in the search; where a quota is not offered through our authorised arrangement, we say so and point you to the official channel.
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General (GN)
Most berths on most trains. Opens with the advance reservation window and is where nearly every booking starts.
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Tatkal (TQ) and Premium Tatkal
Opens one day before the journey date, at 10:00 for AC classes and 11:00 for non-AC. Fares carry a supplement, and a confirmed Tatkal ticket earns no refund on cancellation. Identity checks for online Tatkal booking have been tightened, and current rules keep authorised ticketing agents out of the first 30 minutes of each window. Where that affects a booking made through us, we tell you before you rely on it.
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Ladies (LD)
A small number of berths for women travelling on their own or in an all-women group, with children up to 12 where the rules allow. Offered in selected classes on many trains.
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Senior citizen and lower berth
Lower berths set aside for senior citizens, women aged 45 and above, and pregnant travellers, subject to availability. Fare concessions for seniors have been suspended since 2020; check the current rule before you travel.
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Persons with disabilities (PwD)
For travellers with an eligible disability who hold the Indian Railways concession identity card, with an escort where the rules allow. Concession fares apply to eligible categories.
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Quota availability depends on the train, the class and what is contractually available to us. Rules change from time to time; check the latest Indian Railways guidance before you rely on a concession.
On board
Hours that feel like part of the trip.
A long train journey is one of the calmest ways to cross India. A little preparation makes it better.
- Meals come from the pantry car on many long-distance trains, or from e-catering delivered at selected stations.
- Free luggage allowances vary by class. Keep large bags under the lower berth and valuables with you.
- Coach positions are displayed on the platform. Your trip hub shows the coach and berth once allotted.
- An early-morning arrival is easier with a station pickup waiting, or a short hop on the city metro.
Train FAQ
Rail questions, answered straight.
Is InfiniaTrips the same as IRCTC?
No. InfiniaTrips is an independent travel platform. Train tickets are issued through an authorised IRCTC ticketing arrangement under Indian Railways rules, and the ticket, PNR and status you see come from Indian Railways’ own systems.
How far in advance can I book a train ticket in India?
The advance reservation period is currently 60 days, not counting the day of the journey. It was reduced from 120 days in November 2024 and has been revised before, so the search always shows the earliest date you can book for each train.
Can I board the train with an RAC ticket?
Yes. RAC gives you a place on the train, usually half of a side-lower berth shared with another RAC passenger. If a berth falls vacant during the journey, the ticket examiner can allot it to you.
What happens to a waitlisted e-ticket that never confirms?
Once the chart is prepared, a fully waitlisted e-ticket is cancelled automatically and the fare is refunded to the original payment method, less the clerkage charge. Where some passengers on a booking are confirmed or RAC and others are waitlisted, we show each passenger’s status separately so you can decide how the group travels.
Can I pick a lower berth or a window seat?
You can state a berth preference, but allocation is made by the Indian Railways reservation system and depends on what is left. Senior citizens, women aged 45 and above and pregnant travellers are considered for lower berths automatically where available.
Which ID should I carry on an Indian train?
At least one passenger on each ticket should carry an original government photo ID, such as a passport, Aadhaar card, driving licence or voter ID. Foreign nationals should carry their passport. The ticket examiner may ask for it with your e-ticket or SMS.
Station to door
The train reaches the city. We cover the rest.
Pair your train with a station pickup, a stay near the platform or a flight home. ATLAS finds the stay and the flight, and a travel designer arranges the train and the pickup.