In the context of Indian Railways, the RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) is cleared before the Waiting List (W/L) [1].

Here's a breakdown of the two ticket statuses:

1. RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation):

   • RAC status means that you have a waiting list ticket, but your travel in the respective coach is confirmed.
   • With an RAC ticket, you are guaranteed a seat on the train, but not a full berth for sleeping.
   • RAC seats are often split between two passengers, so you might have to share a berth with another RAC ticket holder [2].
   • If someone with a confirmed seat cancels their ticket, RAC status will be the first to be confirmed [2].

2. W/L (Waiting List):

   • Waiting List status means that you are on the waiting list and will not get a seat in the train initially.
   • Waiting List passengers are not allowed to travel in reserved coaches, but they can travel in unreserved coaches if available.
   • If your ticket status is marked as WL followed by a number, it means you are on the waiting list and your ticket can get confirmed if passengers who have already booked their tickets for the same journey cancel their tickets [3].

To summarize, RAC tickets are cleared before the Waiting List. RAC status guarantees you a seat on the train, while waiting list status means you are on the waiting list and may not get a seat initially.

Learn more:

1. Which gets cleared first: RAC or W/L? - Quora
2. What Does RAC Status Mean in Indian Railway? - redBus Blog
3. What is Waiting List and RAC? - PNR Status