Paytm Logo
Download AppDownload App
userSign In
Home>
Train Tickets>
PNR Status
Flights iconFlights
Bus
Trains iconTrains
Intl. Flights
24X7 Help Icon
24X7 Help
Check PNR Status
Check booking status of your upcoming journey
Check PNR Status
info
Where can I find my PNR?
downArrow
My BookingsMy BookingsView all your bookings in one place
Book a ticketBook a ticketBook train tickets hassle-free on Paytm
Train StatusTrain StatusFind current location of your train
Order FoodOrder FoodOrder food easily for your journey

IRCTC and Paytm: Making Train Ticket Booking Easy

IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) is the official website for booking train tickets in India. It offers an easy and efficient way for passengers to book tickets, check train schedules, and manage other railway services. Since its start in 2002, IRCTC has helped modernize train travel by providing digital booking options that improve the travel experience.

Working with Paytm, a popular digital payment app in India, IRCTC makes booking train tickets even simpler. This partnership allows passengers to easily buy tickets and pay securely using linked bank accounts on Paytm. It also offers cashback rewards and supports the digital growth of India’s railway services.

For those who want to check IRCTC PNR status live or need to make a train PNR status enquiry, this collaboration makes travel easier and more convenient for millions of people.

PNR Status

The PNR (Passenger Name Record) status is an important part of travelling with Indian Railways. It’s a unique number that holds key information about your train journey.

Here’s what the PNR status tells you:

  • Ticket Status: It shows if your ticket is confirmed, on the waiting list (WL), or reserved against cancellation (RAC).
  • Seat Information: You’ll know your coach and seat number.
  • Travel Class: Details about your travel class (like Sleeper or AC).
  • Train Details: The name and number of the train you're taking.
  • Journey Time and Fare: How long your trip will take and how much it costs.
  • Arrival and Departure Times: Information about when your train will arrive and leave.

To stay updated, you can easily check your IRCTC PNR status live or do a train PNR status enquiry whenever you need, making your travel experience smoother.

Importance of PNR Status

Knowing your PNR status is crucial for managing your train journey effectively. The current status displayed online indicates whether your booked ticket is confirmed, on a waiting list, or reserved against cancellation. Understanding this status helps you plan your travel better.

Here’s what each abbreviation means:

  • CNF: Confirmed
  • RAC: Reservation Against Cancellation (Confirmed + RAC)
  • WL: Waiting List (RAC + WL)
  • GNWL: General Waiting List
  • PQWL: Pooled Quota Waiting List
  • RLWL: Remote Location Waiting List
  • TQWL: Tatkal Waiting List

Ways to Check IRCTC PNR Status

You can easily check IRCTC PNR status live and get train information through various methods:

  1. Paytm App/Website: Use the Paytm app or website to quickly check IRCTC PNR status live.
  2. SMS/Phone: Send an SMS with your PNR number to 139 or call 139 for your PNR status.
  3. Railway Station Counters: Visit railway station counters for assistance with your train PNR status enquiry.
  4. Final Reservation Charts: Check the final reservation charts displayed at the station for your ticket status.

These options make it convenient to stay updated on your travel plans!

How to Check Your PNR Status on Paytm?

When you book train tickets online, you'll be assigned a unique PNR (Passenger Name Record) number. This number is essential for tracking your booking and checking the status of your train. Whether your ticket is confirmed, waitlisted, or under reservation against cancellation (RAC), the PNR helps you stay updated on your travel status and seat availability.

Steps to Check Your PNR Status on Paytm:

Step 1: Open the Paytm app on your device and log in to your account.

Step 2: On the home screen, navigate to the ‘Ticket Booking’ section and select ‘Train Tickets’. You can also use the search bar to quickly find "Train Tickets".

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘PNR Status’.

Step 4: Enter your 10-digit PNR number in the provided field and click on ‘Check’ to view your PNR status on Paytm.

Note: Where to Find the PNR Number on a Train Ticket

You can locate your PNR (Passenger Name Record) number in several places:

  1. Booking Summary Page: If you used Paytm to book your ticket, you can find your PNR number on the booking summary page, as well as in the email and SMS confirmation.
  2. On Your Train Ticket: The PNR number is printed in the top left corner of your Indian Railways train ticket.
  3. Booking Confirmation: If you booked your ticket through the IRCTC website or any online travel site, you will receive your PNR number via email and SMS.

PNR Generation for Different Types of Trains

The PNR number is generated for various categories of Indian Railways trains, based on factors like halts and average speed.

  1. Passenger Trains: These trains typically operate between nearby cities. Since there’s no reservation facility for these services, they do not generate a PNR number.
  2. Express and Super-fast Express Trains: These trains cover longer distances and allow ticket reservations, resulting in a unique PNR number for each booking.
  3. Metro Trains: Fully equipped with modern facilities, metro trains in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore do not allow reservations, hence no PNR numbers are generated.
  4. Suburban Local Trains: Fast local trains that stop at key stations and slower suburban trains do not have reservation options, so they also do not generate PNR numbers.
  5. Shatabdi and Janshatabdi Express Trains: These high-speed trains connect important stations and allow reservations. You can check the PNR status for both, with Janshatabdi offering both AC and non-AC coaches, while Shatabdi trains are entirely air-conditioned.
  6. Rajdhani Express Trains: These fast, fully air-conditioned trains operate with fewer stops between major cities. Reservations are available, and you can check the PNR status.
  7. Garib Rath Trains: Equipped with AC 3 Tier coaches, these trains allow reservations and live PNR status checks.
  8. Duronto Express Trains: Running directly from source to destination without stops, these trains also support reservations and PNR status tracking.

Useful Links: IRCTC Ticket Booking | IRCTC PNR Status | Train Running Status | Seat Availability | Railway Enquiry

What Does a PNR Number Include?

A PNR (Passenger Name Record) number is a unique 10-digit code used in Indian Railways ticketing. Here's how it works:

  1. First Digit: The first digit indicates the zone of the train's starting station:
    • 1: Secunderabad PRS (SCR zone)
    • 2, 3: New Delhi PRS (NR, NCR, NWR, or NER zones)
    • 4, 5: Chennai PRS (SR, SWR, or SCR zones)
    • 6, 7: Kolkata PRS (NFR, ECR, ER, EcoR, SER, or SECR zones)
    • 8, 9: Mumbai PRS (CR, WCR, or WR zones)
  2. Last 7 Digits: The remaining seven digits are randomly generated to ensure that each PNR number is unique.

This system helps manage ticketing efficiently and allows passengers to track their bookings easily.


Types of PNR Status

When checking your PNR status online, you may come across several abbreviations that indicate the status of your train ticket. Understanding these can help you plan your journey better:

PNR StatusMeaningNotes
CNFConfirmedYou have an assigned seat or berth for your journey.
RACReservation Against CancellationYou may share a berth with another RAC passenger; if cancellations occur, you might get a full berth.
RACWLReservation Against Cancellation WaitlistWaitlisted ticket with the possibility of being upgraded to RAC if it doesn’t move to confirmed.
WLWaitlistNo reserved seat or berth. Chances depend on passenger cancellations.
TQWLTatkal Waiting ListFor Tatkal quota tickets; lower chances of confirmation due to high demand.
CANCancelledYour ticket has been cancelled.
GNWLGeneral WaitlistTypically for passengers boarding at the originating station; better chances with cancellations.
PQWLPooled Quota WaitlistFor trains with a pooled quota, allowing boarding at intermediate stations. Confirmation depends on available seats.
RLWLRemote Location WaitlistFor intermediate stations; confirmation depends on cancellations on that specific route.

PNR Status Prediction

Paytm now offers a "PNR Confirmation Prediction" feature to help you make informed decisions about your train ticket bookings. This tool predicts the likelihood of your waitlisted tickets being confirmed, ensuring you have a clearer picture before your journey date.

How Does the PNR Confirmation Prediction Feature Work?

Simply enter your route, travel date, and class of travel, and you'll receive a list of trains along with the percentage probability of ticket confirmation. This allows you to choose tickets with a higher chance of confirmation.

Zones From Which PNR Is Issued

Your PNR number is issued from various zones of the Indian Railways. Here are the key zones:

  • NR: Northern Railways
  • NER: North Eastern Railways
  • NFR: Northeast Frontier Railways
  • ER: Eastern Railways
  • SER: South Eastern Railways
  • SCR: South Central Railways
  • SR: Southern Railways
  • CR: Central Railways
  • WR: Western Railways
  • SWR: South Western Railways
  • NWR: North Western Railways
  • WCR: West Central Railways
  • NCR: North Central Railways
  • SECR: South East Central Railways
  • ECoR: East Coast Railways
  • ECR: East Central Railways

Train PNR Status FAQS

Q. What is a PNR?

Ans: A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is a 10-digit number that holds the personal details of a passenger, issued by IRCTC’s computerized reservation system.

Q. How is a PNR Number generated?

Ans: The PNR number has 10 digits. The first 3 digits indicate the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) where the ticket was booked, and the zone of the train. The last 7 digits are randomly generated to ensure a unique PNR for each ticket. The zones are as follows:

1: SCR (Secundarabad PRS)

2, 3: NR, NCR, NWR, NER (New Delhi PRS)

4, 5: SR, SWR, SCR (Chennai PRS)

6, 7: NFR, ECR, ER, SER, SECR (Kolkata PRS)

8, 9: CR, WCR, WR (Mumbai PRS)

Q. Why do I get error messages while checking PNR?

Ans: Error messages can appear if you enter the wrong PNR, the server is down, or you check the PNR between 11:30 PM and 12:30 AM during maintenance hours.

Q. How does PNR work?

Ans: The PNR is generated by the Centre of Railway Information Systems (CRIS), where the details of passengers are stored. Every time you book a train ticket, a 10-digit PNR is assigned to you.

Q. How to check PNR Status online?

Ans: To check your PNR status online, simply enter the 10-digit PNR number on the Indian Railways or Paytm website and click 'submit.' The current PNR status will be displayed. Note, for privacy reasons, you cannot check the PNR status using the passenger's name.

Q. What are the confirmation chances of my waitlisted ticket?

Ans: The confirmation of waitlisted tickets depends on ticket demand. Paytm’s PNR prediction feature helps you estimate the likelihood of confirmation by showing a percentage, such as 50% or 70%. The higher the percentage, the better the chances.

Q. What is meant by “Chart not prepared” status?

Ans: This status means the final reservation chart hasn’t been prepared yet. Usually, charts are prepared 2 hours before the train’s departure, though for early morning or late-night trains, it may be ready up to 4 hours before.

Q. Is there any chance of ticket confirmation after chart preparation?

Ans: Once the chart is prepared, waitlisted tickets generally don’t get confirmed. However, if there are vacant seats, you may speak to the Train Conductor (TC) to see if you can be allotted a seat.

Q. What is the validity of an Indian Railways PNR Number?

Ans: Your PNR number is valid only for the duration of your journey. After that, it becomes invalid.

Q. How often should you check Train PNR Status updates?

Ans: If you have a waitlisted ticket, it’s good to check your PNR status regularly as it can change with cancellations. It’s recommended to check the live PNR status often, especially close to the journey date.

Q. Can we travel with only the PNR number?

Ans: Yes, if your PNR is confirmed, you can travel without a printed ticket. Just show your PNR number and ID proof to the Train Conductor.

Q. Can we check PNR after the journey?

Ans: After your journey, if you try to check the PNR status, you may see “Flushed PNR/PNR not generated.” Eventually, the same PNR might be issued to another passenger.

Q. What does CNF mean in Train PNR status?

Ans: CNF means "Confirmed". If your PNR status shows CNF, your seat is confirmed.

Q. Where is the PNR number printed on a train ticket?

Ans: For tickets bought at a railway station, the PNR number is on the top left corner. For online bookings, it’s displayed at the top of the ticket.