RAC train ticket became waitlisted, passenger had to travel standing; he filed a case against Railways and won Rs 5000 compensation

When Mr Singh from Uttam Nagar, Delhi wanted to travel to his native village in October 2012, he booked a sleeper class train ticket in Simanchal Express. However, at the time of booking, the booking status of sleeper class berth was RAC/43. In RAC ticket, you can travel in the train but will have to share a berth with another passenger. In waitlist ticket, you cannot travel if it is not cofirmed.

So despite the ticket's status being RAC, Singh booked it thinking that by October 31, 2012 (his travel date) the RAC ticket would be confirmed. Instead to his surprise, when he reached Anand Vihar Railway Station at 6.30 AM on October 31, 2012, he discovered that the train’s chart showed his ticket as waiting list 44 (WL/44) instead of RAC 43 which he had originally booked.