GNWL in Railway: A Guide to General Waiting List, Confirmation Chances & More

Booking a train ticket in India often comes with acronyms that confuse even seasoned travelers. One of the most common and often misunderstood is GNWL, or General Waiting List. If you’ve ever wondered “GNWL means in railway?”, this guide will simplify everything: from full form and meaning, to confirmation chances and differences from other types of waitlists.

GNWL Full Form in Railway

GNWL full form in Railway is General Waiting List. That mean, GNWL(General waiting list) reefers to tickets booked under the general quota, usually from the train’s origin station or a major junction close to the origin. When all confirmed seats are booked, remaining passengers are added to this list.

GNWL Meaning in Train Booking (Explained with Example)

Let’s say you’re booking a train from New Delhi to Mumbai. If you’re booking from New Delhi — the train’s origin — and there are no confirmed seats available, your ticket will be placed under GNWL, like GNWL/15. This means you’re 15th in line on the general waiting list.

Key Point: GNWL is the most common types of waiting list and most likely to get confirmed among all waiting list types.

GNWL vs WL: Key Differences

In the context of GNWL vs WL, GNWL (General Waiting List) is issued when a passenger books a ticket from the train’s originating station and has higher chances of confirmation. WL (Waiting List) is a broader term that includes various types of waiting list like RLWL, PQWL(Pooled Quota Waiting List), TQWL, and may have lower priority in confirmation.

Must Read: Types Of Waiting List in Indian Railways

Feature	GNWL	WL (Generic)
Full Form	General Waiting List	Wait List (Generic)
Applies To	General quota bookings from origin stations	All waitlisted categories
Confirmation Chance	High	Depends on prefix (e.g., RLWL, PQWL)
Priority	Highest among all WLs	Lower (especially PQWL, RLWL)

How GNWL Tickets Get Confirmed?

When confirmed ticket holders cancel their journey, the first in line on the waiting list is promoted to RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), then confirmed.

If you want to know more RAC in railway, visit out another article. We describe in details about RAC.

The final chart, usually prepared 4 hours before departure, will decide your final status.

GNWL Confirmation Chances In Indian Railways: Check By Numbers

Let’s talk real numbers and facts. Below you can see the number of GNWL confirmation chances.

GNWL 1 to GNWL 10: Very High Confirmation Chances

1. GNWL 1 confirmation chances is almost guaranteed to confirm.
2. GNWL 2 confirmation chances is extremely high and likely to confirm.
3. GNWL 3 confirmation chances is very high and usually clears easily.
4. GNWL 4 confirmation chances is strong and expected to confirm.
5. GNWL 5 confirmation chances is high and should confirm smoothly.
6. GNWL 6 confirmation chances is good and usually clears before charting.
7. GNWL 7 confirmation chances is high with most routes seeing clearance.
8. GNWL 8 confirmation chances is favorable and likely to be confirmed.
9. GNWL 9 confirmation chances is decent and clears in many cases.
10. GNWL 10 confirmation chances is on the edge but still likely to confirm.

GNWL 11 to GNWL 30: Moderate to Low Confirmation Chances

11. GNWL 11 confirmation chances is moderate and may confirm with time.
12. GNWL 12 confirmation chances is reasonable depending on route and timing.
13. GNWL 13 confirmation chances is fair if booked in advance.
14. GNWL 14 confirmation chances is average and depends on cancellations.
15. GNWL 15 confirmation chances is moderate with around 60–70% probability.
16. GNWL 16 confirmation chances is lower but still may clear.
17. GNWL 17 confirmation chances is uncertain and route-dependent.
18. GNWL 18 confirmation chances is shaky with less than 60% chance.
19. GNWL 19 confirmation chances is low and needs good cancellation flow.
20. GNWL 20 confirmation chances is below average and risky.
21. GNWL 21 confirmation chances is dropping and less reliable.
22. GNWL 22 confirmation chances is uncertain and varies by train.
23. GNWL 23 confirmation chances is below 50% in most cases.
24. GNWL 24 confirmation chances is not strong; alternatives recommended.
25. GNWL 25 confirmation chances is weak unless early booking.
26. GNWL 26 confirmation chances is low with rare confirmation.
27. GNWL 27 confirmation chances is very limited and not reliable.
28. GNWL 28 confirmation chances is poor and unlikely to confirm.
29. GNWL 29 confirmation chances is decreasing with time.
30. GNWL 30 confirmation chances is low and not promising.

GNWL 31 to GNWL 60: Low to Very Low Confirmation Chances

31. GNWL 31 confirmation chances is under 40% and usually doesn’t confirm.
32. GNWL 32 confirmation chances is weak and rare to see cleared.
33. GNWL 33 confirmation chances is unlikely to confirm.
34. GNWL 34 confirmation chances is very low and unreliable.
35. GNWL 35 confirmation chances is poor with minimal movement.
36. GNWL 36 confirmation chances is usually stagnant till charting.
37. GNWL 37 confirmation chances is rare unless off-season travel.
38. GNWL 38 confirmation chances is extremely low.
39. GNWL 39 confirmation chances is very unlikely to confirm.
40. GNWL 40 confirmation chances is near the bottom and rarely moves.
41. GNWL 41 confirmation chances is almost negligible.
42. GNWL 42 confirmation chances is under 20% and not reliable.
43. GNWL 43 confirmation chances is very weak and risky.
44. GNWL 44 confirmation chances is close to zero.
45. GNWL 45 confirmation chances is nearly impossible.
46. GNWL 46 confirmation chances is very slim.
47. GNWL 47 confirmation chances is unlikely and not advisable.
48. GNWL 48 confirmation chances is rare and not trustworthy.
49. GNWL 49 confirmation chances is low enough to avoid booking.
50. GNWL 50 confirmation chances is below 10% and risky.
51. GNWL 51 confirmation chances is nearly zero.
52. GNWL 52 confirmation chances is not likely to move.
53. GNWL 53 confirmation chances is too low to consider.
54. GNWL 54 confirmation chances is critically low.
55. GNWL 55 confirmation chances is unpromising and minimal.
56. GNWL 56 confirmation chances is exceptionally low.
57. GNWL 57 confirmation chances is rare and generally stays waitlisted.
58. GNWL 58 confirmation chances is extremely unlikely.
59. GNWL 59 confirmation chances is too low for safe planning.
60. GNWL 60 confirmation chances is among the lowest in the list.

GNWL 61 to GNWL 100: Practically No Confirmation Chances

61. GNWL 61 confirmation chances is almost impossible.
62. GNWL 62 confirmation chances is very poor and rarely clears.
63. GNWL 63 confirmation chances is nearly non-existent.
64. GNWL 64 confirmation chances is historically close to zero.
65. GNWL 65 confirmation chances is not feasible.
66. GNWL 66 confirmation chances is extremely bad.
67. GNWL 67 confirmation chances is virtually hopeless.
68. GNWL 68 confirmation chances is nearly 0%.
69. GNWL 69 confirmation chances is at the bottom end.
70. GNWL 70 confirmation chances is very unlikely to confirm.
71. GNWL 71 confirmation chances is too low to count on.
72. GNWL 72 confirmation chances is zero in most cases.
73. GNWL 73 confirmation chances is impractical.
74. GNWL 74 confirmation chances is extremely minimal.
75. GNWL 75 confirmation chances is not worth considering.
76. GNWL 76 confirmation chances is close to zero.
77. GNWL 77 confirmation chances is unlikely in any season.
78. GNWL 78 confirmation chances is negligible.
79. GNWL 79 confirmation chances is effectively zero.
80. GNWL 80 confirmation chances is not reliable at all.
81. GNWL 81 confirmation chances is as low as it gets.
82. GNWL 82 confirmation chances is virtually non-existent.
83. GNWL 83 confirmation chances is practically zero.
84. GNWL 84 confirmation chances is at rock bottom.
85. GNWL 85 confirmation chances is not expected to confirm.
86. GNWL 86 confirmation chances is highly unrealistic.
87. GNWL 87 confirmation chances is non-viable.
88. GNWL 88 confirmation chances is too low for use.
89. GNWL 89 confirmation chances is barely any.
90. GNWL 90 confirmation chances is non-functional.
91. GNWL 91 confirmation chances is flat out zero.
92. GNWL 92 confirmation chances is not even hopeful.
93. GNWL 93 confirmation chances is completely unreliable.
94. GNWL 94 confirmation chances is absolutely zero.
95. GNWL 95 confirmation chances is no longer practical.
96. GNWL 96 confirmation chances is firmly in the no zone.
97. GNWL 97 confirmation chances is non-existent.
98. GNWL 98 confirmation chances is useless for planning.
99. GNWL 99 confirmation chances is never seen to confirm.
100. GNWL 100 confirmation chances is 0% — avoid completely(But you can book a ticket for short distance Journeys)

You can Use These Official Tools to Predict GNWL Confirmation Chances:

• Trainman.in
  
• ConfirmTkt
  
• IRCTC PNR Status
  

They use machine learning + historical trends to estimate whether your ticket will be confirmed.

Tips to Increase GNWL chances of confirmation

• Book Early – More days in advance = higher chances
  
• Choose Origin Stations – Trains starting from your station give GNWL status
  
• Opt for SL or 3E Classes – These have more seats = higher cancellations
  
• Avoid Peak Travel Seasons – Holidays and festivals see heavy booking
  

What If GNWL Ticket is Not Confirmed?

• E-Ticket: It gets auto-canceled, and you get a refund (minus nominal fee)
  
• Counter Ticket: You must cancel it manually to get a refund
  
• You cannot board the train with a GNWL e-ticket if it’s unconfirmed after charting
  

Real-World Example of GNWL Confirmation

Let’s say:

• You booked GNWL/5 in Sleeper Class from Delhi to Varanasi
  
• 3 people cancel before charting → You move to RAC 2
  
• 2 more cancel → Your ticket becomes CNF (Confirmed)
  

That’s how GNWL improves as cancellations occur. But how actually Train ticket confirmation logic works no one knows.

Frequently Asked Questions About GNWL

Q1. What does GNWL means in railway?

GNWL means General Waiting List in Indian Railways — a waitlist given to passengers boarding from a train’s origin or major junction.

Q2. What is GNWL full form?

GNWL full form in railway is General Waiting List.

Q3. What is the difference between GNWL and WL?

GNWL is a specific type of WL with high confirmation chances, mostly given to origin station passengers. And WL is a group of multiple type of waiting list like, PQWL, RLWL, TQWL and more.

Q4. Which is better, WL or GNWL?

GNWL (General Waiting List) generally offers a better chance of confirmation as compared to WL (Waiting List). GNWL(General Waiting List) is issued when a passenger’s boarding station is the train’s originating station or one of the first few stations, where most cancellations occur. This gives GNWL tickets priority in the confirmation process. WL is a broader category, encompassing all waitlisted tickets, and includes GNWL, PQWL (Pooled Quota Waitlist), and RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List).

Q5. What are GNWL confirmation chances?

They are high — especially for bookings made early and with low waiting numbers (e.g., GNWL 1–10).

Q6. Can I board the train with a GNWL ticket?

Only if it gets confirmed. If your GNWL ticket remains unconfirmed, it is not valid for travel (especially for e-tickets).

Q7. What is the difference between RAC and GNWL?

GNWL is a standard waiting list where passengers typically board from the originating station, while RAC allows boarding with a shared seat (side lower berth) and has a higher chance of being upgraded to a full berth if confirmed.

Conclusion

In summary, GNWL (General Waiting List) in Indian Railways refers to tickets that are waitlisted from the originating station of the train and usually have the highest chances of confirmation. It’s the most common and prioritized waiting list, especially for long-distance routes starting from major stations. Understanding what GNWL means in railway bookings can help travelers make smarter choices and increase the likelihood of securing a confirmed seat.