PNR & Ticket Help
A quick guide to understanding Indian Railways ticket numbers, PNR status, and the difference between reserved and unreserved ticketing.
What is a PNR Number?
PNR stands for Passenger Name Record. It is a unique 10-digit number assigned to every reserved railway ticket booked on IRCTC or at a counter. It identifies your booking and tracks your seat/berth confirmation status.
Example PNR: 4201234567
- First digit indicates the railway zone (e.g., 4 = Southern Railways).
- PNR status changes from Waitlisted (WL) โ RAC โ Confirmed (CNF) as cancellations happen.
- Check PNR status at Indian Railways official site or the IRCTC app.
What is a Platform QR Code?
A platform QR code is a unique QR code displayed at each Indian railway station platform. Passengers scan it using the RailOne app (formerly the UTS app) to instantly book unreserved tickets for that departure station. Indian Railways has introduced a rule at select stations making it mandatory to show a QR-scanned digital ticket for platform entry.
- Platform QR codes are physically posted at station entry points and platforms.
- You can also access all station platform QR codes on utsqrscan.in before reaching the station.
- Scanning the platform QR auto-fills the departure station in the RailOne app.
- These are the same codes as UTS QR codes โ "platform QR" is the common name used at stations.
What is a UTS / RailOne Ticket Number?
Unreserved tickets booked via the RailOne app (formerly the UTS app) do not have a traditional PNR number. Instead, they carry a RailOne / UTS transaction ID โ a unique reference number generated when you book via the app or at a ticket counter.
Key facts about RailOne / UTS tickets:
- Tickets are for unreserved coaches only โ you sit in any available seat.
- Booked via the RailOne mobile app (formerly UTS app) or at ticket counters.
- No specific seat or berth is assigned โ first come, first served in unreserved coaches.
- Digital UTS tickets must be shown to the TTE as a QR code in the app.
- UTS tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded once issued.
Reserved vs. Unreserved Tickets
| Feature | Reserved (IRCTC) | Unreserved (RailOne / UTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket ID | 10-digit PNR | RailOne / UTS Transaction ID |
| Classes | 1AC, 2AC, 3AC, Sleeper, CC | General / 2nd class |
| Booking window | Up to 120 days in advance | Same-day, at station |
| Seat assigned | Yes | No |
| Cancellation | Yes (with charges) | Not allowed |
| Book via | IRCTC app / website / counter | RailOne app / counter (scan platform QR) |
How to Check PNR Status
- Visit indianrail.gov.in or open the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
- Enter your 10-digit PNR number in the "PNR Enquiry" field.
- Click Get PNR Status to see your booking status, coach, and seat/berth number.
PNR status updates automatically โ check it 24โ48 hours before your journey for the final confirmation.
Common Ticket Status Codes
- CNF โ Confirmed. Your berth/seat is guaranteed.
- RAC โ Reservation Against Cancellation. You'll share a berth; allowed to board.
- WL / WL# โ Waitlisted. You cannot board unless status changes to RAC or CNF.
- GNWL โ General Waitlist. Most common WL type.
- PQWL โ Pooled Quota Waitlist. Lower priority than GNWL.
- TQWL โ Tatkal Quota Waitlist.
๐ซ utsqrscan.in is an independent platform and does not process or display live PNR status. For official PNR enquiry, please use the Indian Railways website or the IRCTC app. For unreserved ticketing, use the RailOne app (formerly UTS app).