RAC Full Form
Reservation Against Cancellation
What does RAC stand for? A general term, explained.
RAC Full Form in English, letter by letter
RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) is an Indian Railways ticket status that lets you travel on a shared berth until one becomes free.
RAC Full Form in Indian Languages
Seeing RAC instead of a berth number on your train ticket is not a rejection. RAC means Reservation Against Cancellation, and its name is given here in six Indian languages.
What RAC status really means
Reservation Against Cancellation is a status between a confirmed ticket and a waitlisted one. An RAC passenger's name is on the reservation chart and the passenger is allowed to board and travel. But the berth is shared with one other RAC passenger until a cancellation frees a full berth.
RAC exists because a train has a fixed number of berths and a queue of people wanting to travel. The railway keeps a small quota of side-lower berths that can seat two people, so a few more passengers can travel than there are full berths.
How the shared berth works
In sleeper class and in AC three-tier and two-tier coaches, the side-lower berth in each bay is the one split between two RAC passengers. They sit facing each other during the day, and at night one lies down while the other sits or they take turns.
Both passengers pay the fare for a berth. As soon as a confirmed passenger cancels or does not turn up, the ticket examiner gives a full berth to the RAC passenger who is first in the order.
CNF, RAC and WL: reading the three statuses
On IRCTC a ticket shows CNF if a berth number is allotted, RAC if the berth is shared, and WL if the passenger is waitlisted. A status like RAC 12 means there are 11 RAC passengers ahead of you. A status like WL 5 means that five waitlisted tickets are ahead of you.
Cancellations first confirm RAC passengers, and waitlisted passengers move up after that. When the chart is made, a waitlisted e-ticket that is still not confirmed is cancelled automatically and the refund goes back to the account. An RAC e-ticket stays valid.
Which classes have RAC
RAC is used in sleeper class, AC three-tier and AC two-tier. First AC cabins and chair car classes do not have RAC. For chair-car trains such as Shatabdi and Vande Bharat the choices are confirmed or waitlisted.
If you have an RAC ticket on a long journey, board on time, find the ticket examiner and ask about vacant berths. Examiners can also tell you whether a berth is likely to open at a later station.
Refunds and cancellations
An RAC ticket can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure, with a flat clerkage deduction, which is Rs 60 per passenger on the Railways' own refund table. After that time no refund is given.
Rules and amounts for confirmed tickets depend on how close to departure the cancellation is made, and have been changed several times. Check the current table on the Indian Railways or IRCTC site before cancelling, instead of relying on what you remember.
How to improve your chance of a berth
Book as early as the window allows, since early bookings are cleared first. Consider the Vikalp option, which lets a waitlisted passenger be moved to another train on the same route if seats are available there. Check how earlier tickets on your route and date moved before you decide whether to hold on or look for an alternative.
If you are travelling with children or elderly relatives, try to get a confirmed ticket even if it means a different train. Sharing a side berth can be hard for a long overnight trip.
A worked example: you book 3A on a night train, and your ticket shows RAC 20 two days before the journey. If five confirmed passengers cancel before the chart, RAC 20 becomes RAC 15, and so on. On busy routes many RAC passengers end up with a full berth before the train reaches the middle of its journey, but there is no guarantee.
What to do if the chart still shows RAC
After the chart is prepared, your status is fixed on the chart as RAC with a seat number, and the examiner can see it. Carry the SMS or the printout, and an ID card as well. The ticket examiner will check your ID against the booking on the train.
If you do not wish to travel on shared seating, you can cancel up to 30 minutes before departure for a refund after clerkage. Or you can travel and wait for a vacancy to open. Keep your luggage compact, since a shared side berth leaves little room, and be courteous to your co-passenger, since you will share the space for the whole night.
RAC says you may come aboard and share a berth until one frees up. Treat it as a place in the queue with permission to travel, and keep checking the status before the chart is made.
RAC Full Form: Common Questions
What is the full form of RAC?
Reservation Against Cancellation. It is the Indian Railways status in which a passenger can travel on a berth shared with one other RAC passenger until a full berth becomes free.
Can I travel on an RAC ticket?
Yes. An RAC passenger's name is on the chart and travel is allowed, though the berth is shared until the ticket examiner allots a full berth.
Is RAC better than a waitlisted ticket?
Yes. An RAC passenger can board the train. A waitlisted e-ticket that is not confirmed when the chart is made is cancelled, and the passenger cannot travel in a reserved coach.
How do I get my RAC ticket confirmed?
Confirmation depends on cancellations. RAC tickets are cleared in order, so book early, and ask the TTE about vacant berths after boarding.
What is the refund rule for an RAC ticket?
RAC and waitlisted tickets can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before departure with a clerkage deduction. After that no refund is given. Check the current IRCTC table for amounts.
Do all trains have RAC?
No. RAC is used in sleeper and AC three-tier and two-tier coaches. Chair car and First AC coaches do not have RAC.