We all have experienced the anxiety of not having a confirmed seat when travelling by train. When you book a train ticket at the last minute due to an emergency, you face this situation. However, a little space on the train can be a relief. Getting RAC status tickets is the solution in such circumstances. RAC ticket authorizes the ticket holder to board the train but does not reserve a berth for the person.
You may be curious about, "What is RAC status in Railway?" Or “What are RAC confirmation chances?” Read on to know more about the RAC ticket status.
What is RAC in IRCTC ticket booking?
RAC means Reservation Against Cancellation, which is a ticket with a confirmed seat that has to share with the co-passengers. The passenger has the right to board the train. In this case, the berth is divided into two for two separate RAC ticket-holding passengers.
RAC status means that the ticket can be confirmed if a passenger with a confirmed ticket cancels the reservation. In other words, if your train ticket is on RAC status, you can board the train and occupy the confirmed seat rather than having a sleeping berth at night. However, you are only allowed to sit. You receive half of the berth through RAC, and the other half of the berth is allocated to another person. This means two passengers are sharing one seat.
The majority of the time, RAC tickets are confirmed after the chart is prepared. However, if any berth remains unoccupied after the train departs, TTE may assign a confirmed berth to you or the passenger travelling on the berth with you.
Facts About the IRCTC RAC Ticket Bookings
- According to IRCTC's website - if the traveller status is marked as RAC, the traveller has a Reservation against Cancellation.
- The ticket with RAC status means that one berth is divided into two seats for two RAC ticket holders.
- The status of the tickets may change for various reasons. The cancellation of a ticket by a passenger with a confirmed train ticket can increase the probability of a RAC or waiting list ticket being confirmed. If different quotas on trains remain vacant, they are also likely to be assigned to RAC ticket holders.
- The passenger is permitted to travel under RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), and two passengers share the same berth.
- According to the IRCTC rule, if a passenger with a confirmed seat does not board the train, a full berth is assigned to the passenger with a RAC ticket.
- A passenger can easily cancel an IRCTC RAC status ticket online up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. No refunds are permitted after the departure of the train.
- If a chart is prepared in the case of an online RAC ticket, an online TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) is needed to be filed to get the refund.
RAC Status Confirmation
RAC passenger can get confirmed seat only in these 3 cases:
- If any VIP quota or other seats remain vacant.
- If any of the passengers book a ticket but didn’t come.
- If there is any last-minute cancellation of the ticket.
How Can I Check RAC Status?
You can check the RAC status of your ticket through the train enquiry app, RailMitra. It is an all-in-one solution for train enquiry services such as, check PNR status, order food in train, fare enquiry, train live status etc. It is the best railway app to Check RAC Status.
Follow the steps to easily check your RAC status online:
- Download the IRCTC RAC status checker app.
- Click on check PNR status.
- Enter your 10-digit PNR number carefully.
- Click on check status to know the result.
- Your RAC Status will be shown on your mobile screen.
Benefits of RAC Ticket
- The biggest benefit of a RAC status ticket is that you are given a confirmed seat, which guarantees that you can board the train. But with waiting list tickets you cannot board the train.
- You can easily have access to the side lower berth with the large window because most RAC seats are side lower.
- A female passenger is always seated next to another female in RAC berth sharing. If a female is travelling in a group, she will receive a RAC with her group only.
- With the RAC ticket, you have a good chance of getting the confirmed seat soon. Depending on TTE, if he gets a vacant seat, then he can allot.
- If you are not sure about the travel plan, you can cancel it after chart preparation but before the 30-minute departure of the train. The ticket cancellation charge is very less.
- If you cancel the RAC ticket at the last moment, only 60 rupees will be deducted, and the remaining amount will be refunded.
Drawbacks of Railway RAC Ticket
The drawbacks of the RAC train ticket are as follows:
- The main drawback is that you have paid the full fare for your train berth but have to share it with other passengers.
- There is no surety about getting the full berth.
- You have to spend your night awake sitting on a seat.
- Cancellation rules are time-bound.
- Even after the final chart is made, the status of your RAC ticket remains the same.
Cancellation Rule of RAC
A passenger can cancel her/his RAC ticket before 30 minutes of the scheduled departure of the train. Refunds of the e-ticket will be credited to the passenger’s bank account after deducting the applicable charges. Refunds are not allowed for the ticket cancelled after the scheduled departure time. RAC ticket cancellation charge is ₹ 60. The RAC ticket cancellation charge is the same for Sleeper and AC.
Is RAC ticket a Confirm Ticket?
The RAC ticket is a confirmed ticket with allocation of half berth. Passengers have the right to board the train and travel, so the berth and bogie numbers are assigned on the ticket.
When is the RAC Ticket Issued?
In any train with a RAC quota, RAC tickets are dispersed after the general quota seats have been exhausted and before the allocation of waiting list ticketing begins.
Which Trains have a RAC quota?
RAC quotas apply to almost all mail and express trains. Except for Jan Shatabdi Express, Shatabdi Express, and Double Decker trains, almost all trains have a RAC quota.
When you get a RAC ticket, do not forget to check the confirmation of your RAC status before heading towards your journey using RailMitra App. This will assist you in planning a comfortable journey.