Coaching Centre
Reading timetables
Reading train and bus timetables in 24-hour time, express and all-stops services, journey times, planning backwards from an arrival time, and making connections.
Trip planner apps do this for you, until your phone is flat or the app is wrong about a delay. Timetables also come up in exams, where the skill is reading the right row and column calmly and counting elapsed time without slipping.
How a timetable is laid out
Most train timetables list stations down the side and services across the top. Read down a column to follow one train. Read across a row to see every train that stops at one station. A vertical bar "|" means the train passes that station without stopping.
The timetable below is a practice one for a Western line morning. It is not a real Sydney Trains timetable, but it is laid out the same way.
| Station | All stops | Express | All stops | All stops | Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penrith | 06:45 | 06:55 | 07:05 | 07:25 | 07:35 |
| St Marys | 06:52 | 07:02 | 07:12 | 07:32 | 07:42 |
| Blacktown | 07:02 | 07:11 | 07:22 | 07:42 | 07:51 |
| Seven Hills | 07:05 | | | 07:25 | 07:45 | | |
| Parramatta | 07:14 | 07:21 | 07:34 | 07:54 | 08:01 |
| Strathfield | 07:28 | 07:33 | 07:48 | 08:08 | 08:13 |
| Redfern | 07:40 | 07:44 | 08:00 | 08:20 | 08:24 |
| Central | 07:43 | 07:47 | 08:03 | 08:23 | 08:27 |
Some stations between those listed are left out to save space. The interactive below shows the full practice timetable.
You catch the $06{:}55$ express from Penrith. When does it reach Parramatta, and how long is the trip?
Planning backwards
When you have to be somewhere by a certain time, start from the arrival station. Find the latest train that arrives on time, then read back up its column to your departure station. Check the train actually stops at both.
Kai lives near Seven Hills and must be at Central by $8{:}15$ am. What is the latest train Kai can catch, and how long is the trip?
Express or all stops?
Compare the $06{:}55$ express and the $07{:}05$ all-stops train from Penrith to Central. Which is faster, and by how much?
Connections and waiting time
Buses that run "every $15$ minutes" or "at $:05$, $:20$, $:35$ and $:50$" past the hour are easy to plan around. List the departure times after you arrive, leave yourself time to walk between stops, and pick the first one you can make.
You arrive at Parramatta at $07{:}21$. It takes $3$ minutes to walk to the bus stop. Buses leave at $:05$, $:20$, $:35$ and $:50$ past each hour. How long do you wait at the bus stop?
- Set From Blacktown, To Central, and Arrive by $08{:}00$. Which train should you catch? Is it an express?
- Change From to Seven Hills with the same arrival time. Why does the answer change?
- Find the quickest trip from Penrith to Redfern on the timetable. How many minutes does the express save?
Your turn
A student catches the $07{:}35$ express from Penrith to Redfern, then walks $9$ minutes to university. When do they reach the uni?
Show the working
The $07{:}35$ express reaches Redfern at $08{:}24$. Adding $9$ minutes gives $08{:}33$.
Using the timetable above, when does the $07{:}05$ from Penrith reach Strathfield?
Read down the $07{:}05$ column to the Strathfield row: $07{:}48$.
How many minutes does the $07{:}25$ from Penrith take to reach Parramatta?
It arrives at $07{:}54$. From $07{:}25$ to $07{:}54$ is $29$ min.
Which trains in the table do not stop at Seven Hills?
Both express columns show "|" at Seven Hills.
You need to be at Redfern by $08{:}00$. What is the latest train you can catch from Blacktown?
The $07{:}22$ from Blacktown reaches Redfern at $08{:}00$ exactly, which is in time. The next train, $07{:}42$, arrives at $08{:}20$.
How long, in minutes, does the express take from Blacktown ($07{:}11$) to Central?
It arrives at Central at $07{:}47$. From $07{:}11$ to $07{:}47$ is $36$ min.
A bus runs every $12$ minutes starting at $06{:}00$. You reach the stop at $07{:}21$. How many minutes do you wait?
Buses leave at $06{:}00$, $06{:}12$, ..., $07{:}12$, $07{:}24$. The next one after $07{:}21$ is $07{:}24$: a $3$ minute wait.
Penrith to Central takes $58$ minutes all stops and $52$ minutes by express. How many minutes does the express save?
$58 - 52 = 6$ min.
In a timetable, "|" in a train's column means:
A vertical bar shows the train runs through the station without stopping.
Exam style: Jess leaves home at $06{:}48$ and walks $12$ minutes to St Marys. She catches the next train to Parramatta. How many minutes after leaving home does she arrive at Parramatta?
She reaches St Marys at $07{:}00$. The next train is the $07{:}02$ express, which arrives at Parramatta at $07{:}21$. From $06{:}48$ to $07{:}21$ is $33$ min.
Exam style: A student catches the $07{:}35$ express from Penrith to Redfern and then walks for $9$ minutes. When do they arrive?
The $07{:}35$ express reaches Redfern at $08{:}24$. $08{:}24 + 9$ min $= 08{:}33$.