Festival train journeys attract large crowds, and things get unpredictable when you are not prepared for it. My Navratri train journey was something like this, where train PNR status checking played a key role in shaping the journey.
My hometown is Patna, but I often travel to Delhi because of my education. Therefore, I need to keep everything planned to avoid last-minute surprises. However, uncertainty does ask for your permission, and I can’t consider myself an exception to avoid such things.
A festive journey requires following the train schedule and planning restaurant-quality meals. So, keep reading this article to know how PNR checking changes my Navratri journey. Moreover, it will also cover the train app that helped improve the travel experience and the steps to check ticket status.
Why I Checked PNR Status When Travelling Back to Patna From Delhi?
Multiple trains run between Delhi and Patna, but this ticket shortage is common during festivals. Large crowds travel back to Bihar and West Bengal, sharing the common route, requiring advance booking. However, I am not the only one who pulls this smart move. Therefore, I got a 17th waiting list after checking the train PNR status even when the ticket window opened.
Let me explain that Indian Railways allows you to book tickets 60 days earlier than the boarding date. However, higher demand and limited seat availability made me have to be in a queue to get ticket confirmation following railway rules. Since my ticket was not confirmed, I was not sure whether to order food in train earlier or not.
However, I decided to keep a keen eye on the PNR status change to find whether my ticket is moving towards confirmation status or if I need to find an alternative. After a few days, I noticed that my ticket status was shifted to the 15th waiting list. It made me curious, and I checked frequently.
Benefits of Checking PNR Status During Navratri Journey
I have observed various benefits of tracking IRCTC PNR status during Navratri train travel. So, check how it can make a positive impact on my journey.
- Find the Current Status: Frequent checking helped me get the latest updates. I have observed that my waitlisted ticket started moving towards confirmation status over time, but slowly.
- Avoid Last-minute Rush: Let me inform you that I started checking my PNR frequently because I don’t want to be surprised at the last minute on my travel date.
- Plan Alternatives: I have checked the train schedule of other trains and found only a few trains that meet my preference. However, each train got filled instantly and did not leave room to consider my Delhi to Patna journey.
- Access Journey Details: 15 days before my travel date, my ticket shifted to RAC 25. I felt relieved because I had the legal eligibility to travel to Patna. However, the journey details were ready to be provided after chart preparation.
- Advance Meal Booking: Once I was pretty sure that my ticket would either get confirmed with a full berth or at least provide me with a half berth to travel. Now, my priority shifted to planning ahead, and I decided to order food in train to get Navratri special meals during my journey.
- Peace of Mind: After ordering my train meals, I got peace of mind because all I needed was to pack my bags and wait for the boarding date.
How I Checked Train PNR Status?
Other platforms require multiple taps to check the latest IRCTC PNR status. Therefore, I chose RailRestro, my travel partner, because it offers multiple features to make the journey comfortable and more predictable.
- I regularly use the RailRestro train app; therefore, it was pre-installed on my mobile.
- So, I directly chose the “PNR Status” feature available on the homepage.
- Then, I filled in my 10-digit PNR number and hit the “Check Status” tab.
- Within seconds, I got my current train PNR status.
Thus, I was able to frequently check my PNR because it comes with auto-save options. So, it made it easy to check my PNR randomly without the frustration of filling in my PNR every time.
PNR Status Checking After Chart Preparation
I found that my latest status before chart preparation became RAC 2. However, after charting, my train PNR status changed to CNF. It helps me find my seat and coach number for a comfortable boarding experience.
What I Learned Through My Journey
I learned that using a smart travel app can make your train journey and planning more convenient. I used RailRestro because it allowed me to check the train schedule and find my PNR status. However, it also helped during the journey by offering to track my live running status and order snacks for delivery at a preferred station.
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