According to IRCTC cancellation rules, if waitlisted e-Tickets (GNWL, PQWL, and RLWL) remain waitlisted even after the charts are prepared, the names of such passengers will be removed from the reservation chart. The refund will be automatically processed by IRCTC after deducting the clerkage fee.

Excellent question. This is a very common point of confusion for Indian Railways passengers.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens when you cancel an RLWL (Remote Location Waiting List) ticket after chart preparation.

The Short Answer:

You will get a refund, but only if your ticket did not get confirmed. The amount refunded depends on whether your status was still RLWL/WL or if it had moved to RLGN/RLWL GNWL (a special confirmed status for RLWL).

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Detailed Scenario Breakdown:

Scenario 1: Your ticket was STILL ON RLWL/WL at chart preparation.

This is the most common case for a canceled RLWL ticket. What happens: Your ticket is automatically canceled by the system when the final chart is prepared, as it did not get a confirmed berth. Refund: You are eligible for a full refund (minus the IRCTC service charge, if applicable). Process: The refund is automatically initiated to the original payment mode. It typically takes 3 to 7 working days to reflect in your account. You do not need to file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) in this case.

Scenario 2: Your ticket got CONFIRMED (showed RLGN/RLWL GNWL or a berth number) at chart preparation.

This happens if enough cancellations from the GNWL quota free up a berth for the RLWL quota. What happens: Your ticket is now a confirmed ticket. If you cancel it after the chart is prepared, standard cancellation rules for a confirmed ticket apply.