How do I book a confirmed ticket when all trains are showing a waiting list?

 Booking a confirmed train ticket when all trains are showing a waiting list can be challenging, but there are a few strategies you can try:

(railway information)

1. Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC): If you're booking a ticket in advance and all seats are already booked, you might be given a RAC or Reservation Against Cancellation. This means you're in a queue for a seat if one becomes available due to cancellation¹.

2. Understand Waiting Lists: There are different types of waiting lists used by the IRCTC, such as WL (most common waiting list), LDWL (waiting list for ladies' seats), CKWL (waiting list for tatkal or short notice travel tickets), and PQWL (waiting list ticket against the pooled quota). The chance of getting your ticket confirmed varies depending on the type of waiting list.

3. Use Prediction Tools: Websites like ConfirmTkt² and India Rail Information¹ offer prediction features that calculate your odds of getting a confirmed ticket based on past ticketing trends.

4. Extend Destination City: If you're getting a waiting ticket for your origin-destination pair in a train, then change the destination to a station which comes 2-3 stops after your alight station. Sometimes you might find a confirmed ticket in this case.

5.Guaranteed Seat Assistance: Some platforms like Paytm offer a "Guaranteed Seat Assistance" feature. You can select this option while booking your ticket.

Remember, these strategies do not guarantee a confirmed ticket but can increase your chances. Always plan your travel in advance and keep checking the ticket availability status.