Decoding the Myths about Remote Location Quota
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Remote Location quota is a specific waitlisted ticket quota on an Indian long distance train. It is one of the prominent Waiting list categories. But that is all that an average passenger knows about this quota. In this blog, we would look to explore many unknown areas of this quota.
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Remote Location quota available for remote wayside stations only?
Sorry to disappoint you, but there is nothing remote about Remote Location quota or Remote Location Waiting List (RLWL). The quota is available for passengers wishing to board or de-board at major cities (stations) along the running route of a train. If a train is travelling from Mumbai to Jammu Tawi, and it crosses New Delhi, even New Delhi can be held as a Remote Location station.
What then is Remote Location Quota?
Railway quotas
Each train passes through many cities and metros along its route, during its end-to-end journey. A train may journey from Chennai to Howrah, but some passengers might want to take a journey from Visakhapatnam to Howrah, bookings made by such group of passengers constitute the Remote Location quota. For any train, the maximum leverage is given on bookings for end-to-end journeys (from origination to termination points), but for those who either want to board or de-board the train at an intermediate major station Remote Location Quota is the way to book.
How is Remote Location quota set for specific stations?
Each train has a different Remote Location quota. This number is set after studying the importance of cities or metropolitans, which the train passes through. The numbers set aside for each station are quite low as Indian Railways encourages end-to end journeys.
Why was Remote Location Waiting List introduced?
Rural railway station
It was a catch it or leave it thing, for the railways. Trains plying across the originating and terminating points cross through many major cities along the route which could provide regular influx of passengers. Now, the problem with mid-point boarding or de-boarding is that the berths may remain empty for the rest of the journey leading to loss of revenue. So, railways devised a mid-way. They created a special quota (with handful of seats for each station) and kept the larger chunks for end-to-end journeys.
What is RLWL?
RLWL or Remote Location Waiting List is the waiting list faced by a passenger when booking against Remote Location quota.
How seats are reserved under the RLWL?
The count of seats varies from one station to the next and from one train to another, so a generalization is not possible.
What are the Confirmation chances for RLWL?
RLWL confirmation
The confirmation probability for all RLWL tickets is very low. GNWL (General Waiting List) is given first preference when it comes to confirmation. RLWL tickets are confirmed only when someone from your remote location station (boarding station) has cancelled tickets.
What is meant by GNWL 91/RLWL 3?
Such a status, confuses many average passengers, so let us explain. It means that as per the Remote Location Waiting List you are third in queue to get a confirmed berth (when three people from your Remote Location station cancel their tickets). And based on General booking trends you are 91 people behind getting a confirmed berth.
What is the difference between RLWL and PQWL?
Reservation form
While the RLWL quota is available for passengers who wish to onboard or de-board at any major city or metropolitan along the train’s run, while PQWL (Pooled Waiting List) can only be opted for if you have boarded the train at the station of origin and wish to get down at any intermediate station.