VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE

CHAPTER: 20
TRAINS
A train is said to have crossed an object (stationary or moving) only when the last coach of the train crosses the said
object completely. It implies that the total length of the train has crossed the total length of the object.
20.1 A TRAIN CROSSES A SINGLE OBJECT
object of Speed train of Speed
Object of Length train of Length
Speed Crossing Relative
Length Crossing Total
Time Crossing

+

V V
L L
t
t
t

.. (1)
Important Note
Type of object Value of L Value of V
Stationary 0 (Zero)
Man 0
Any object moving (-) V in place of V
opposite to train
Assumption
constant L train of Length
constant V train of Speed
t
t

20.2 A TRAIN CROSSES TWO OBJECTS
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
Using equation 1,
2
2 1
2
1
1
1
,
V V
L L
t
V V
L L
t
t t
t

2
2
2 1
1
1
1
V
t
L L
V V
t
L L
V
t
t
t
+
+
+
+

Here, same train is crossing two objects, so, speed of train is same

2
2
2
1
1
1
train, of Speed V
t
L L
V
t
L L
V
t t
t
+
+
+
+

.. (2)
But, if the length of the train (Lt) is also not known, then,
2 1
2 2 2 1 1 1
) ( ) (
t t
t V L t V L
V
t

+ +

.. (3)
N.B. Also see important note to Refer no. 20.1.
20.3 TWO TRAINS CROSS THE SAME OBJECT
Here, both trains are crossing the SAME object, so, length of objects is same.
2 2 2 1 1 1
object, of Length
t t t t
L t V L t V L ... (4)
20.4 TWO TRAINS CROSSING EACH OTHER IN BOTH DIRECTIONS
Two trains are crossing each other
Length of one train = L1
Length of second train = L2
They are crossing each other in opposite direction in t1 seconds
The are crossing each other in same direction in t2 seconds
then, speed of Faster Train =
1
]
1

+
+
2 1
2 1
1 1
2 t t
L L
Speed of Slower Train =
1
]
1

+
2 1
2 1
1 1
2 t t
L L
SOLVED EXAMPLES
E-l A train 110 metre long travels at 60 km/h. How long does it take to cross,
(a) a telegraph post
(b) a man running at 6 km/h in the same direction
(c) a man running at 6 km/h in the opposite direction
(d) a platform 240 metre long
(e) another train 170 metre long standing on another parallel track
(f) another train 170 metre long, running at 54 km/h in same direction
(g) another train 170 metre long, running at 80 km/h in opposite direction.
S-1 Since 1 km/h =
18
5
m/s
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
Speed of train = 60 km/h = 60
18
5
m/s
(a) The telegraph post is a stationary object, so, using equation (1)
t
t
V
L L
t
+

, Since V = 0, for stationary object

s t
18
5
60
0 110

Crossing time = 6.6 s.

(b) The man is moving, so, using equation (1)
s 33 . 7
18
5
) 6 60 (
0 110


+

t s t
V V
L L
t
t
t
Crossing time = 7.33 s.
(c) The man is moving, so using Equation (1),
V V
L L
t
t
t

But here man is moving in opposite direction so, put V in place of V

6s

+

t
s t
s t
18
5
66
110
18
5
)] 6 ( 60 [
0 100
Crossing time = 6 s.
(d) The platform is stationary, so using Equation (1),
t
t
V
L L
t
+

Since V= 0
Where, length of platform L = 240 metre
s t
s t
21
18
5
60
240 110

+

Crossing time is 21 s.
(e) Another train is stationary, so using Equation (1),
t
t
V
L L
t
+

Since V = 0
Where length of another train L = 170 metres
s t
t
8 . 16
18
5
60
170 110

+

JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
Crossing time is 16.8 s.
(f) Another train is moving, so using Equation (1),
V V
L L
t
t
t

Another train is moving in same direction at a speed V = 54 km/h, length of another train L = 170 metre
s t
s t
168
18
5
) 54 60 (
170 110


+

Crossing time is 2 minute 48 s.
(g) Here, another train is moving in opposite direction, so, putting -V in place of V in Eq (1)
s t
s t
V V
L L
t
t
t
2 . 7
18
5
) 80 60 (
170 110
) (

+
+


+

Crossing time is 7.2 s.

E-2 A train passes a station platform in 36 seconds and a man standing on the platform in 20 seconds. If the speed of the train
is 54 km/h, find the length of the platform.
S-2 The speed of train Vt = 54 km/h
= 54
18
5
m/s
= 15 m/s
The train crosses two objects and both objects are stationary,
time to cross a platform t1 = 36 s V1 = 0
time to cross a man t2 = 20 s V2 = 0 (both objects are stationary)
Length of platform L = ?
Here, length of train Lt is not known and it is not to be calculated. So using Equation (3)
2 1
2 2 2 1 1 1
) ( ) (
t t
t V L t V L
V
t

+ +

20 36
0
15
1

L
m 240 L
metre 15 16 L
1


Length of platform is 240 metres.
E-3 The train crosses a man standing on a platform 150 metre long in 10 seconds and crosses the platform completely in 22
seconds. Find the length of train and speed of train.
S-3 Here, length of train (Lt) speed of train (Vt) both are not known, so using the Equation (3)
,
t t
) t V (L ) t V (L
V
2 1
2 2 2 1 1 1
t

+ +

Where, L1 = 0, for man, t1 = 10 s, V1 = V2 = 0, for stationary objects

L2 = 150 m for platform t2 = 22 s
m/s 12.5
12
150
22 10
150 0
V
t

Now, using Equation (2),
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
1
1
1
V
t
L L
V
t
t
+
+

(but V1 = 0 and L1 = 0)
m/s 12.5 V
m/s
10
0 125
V
t
t

+

Speed of the train is 12.5 metre/s.
E-4 A train running at 25 km/h takes 18 seconds to pass a platform. Next it takes 10 seconds to pass a man walking at the
rate of 7 km/h in the same direction. Find the length of the platform and length of train.
S-4 Here, speed of the train (Vt) is known, but length of the train (Lt) is not known. So, using the equation (2)
2
2
2 t
1
1
1 t
t
t
L L
V
t
L L
V V +
+
+
+

Where, L1 = length of platform = ? t1 = 18s V1 = 0

L2 = 0, for man t2 = 10s V2 = 7 km/h = 7
18
5
m/s
Lt = length of train = ? Vt = Speed of train = 25 km/h
= m/s
18
5
25
Now,
2
2
2 t
t
L L
18
125
V +
+

50m L
18
35
10
0 L
18
125
t
t
+
+

Length of train is 50 m.
Now,
1
1
1 t
V
t
L L
18
125
+
+

75m L 0
18
L 50
18
125
1
1
+
+

Length of platform is 75 in.
E-5 A train running at 36 km/h takes 12 seconds to pass a platform. Next it takes 6 seconds to pass a man running at the rate
of 9 km/h in the opposite direction. Find the length of train and length of platform.
S-5 Here, speed of train is known, but length of train is not known. So, using the Equation (2)
2
2
2 1
1
1
1 t
t
V
t
L L
V
t
L L
V +
+
+
+

Where, L1 = length of platform = ? t1 = 12s V1 = 0

L2 = 0, for man t2 = 6s V2 = -9 km/h =
18
5 9
m/s
Lt = ? Vt = 36 km/h
= m/s
18
5
36
Now,
+
75m L
2
5
6
0 L
10
t
t
length of train is 75 m.
Similarly,
1
1
1 t
V
t
L L
10 +
+

45m L
12
L 75
10
1
1

+

Length of platform is 45 metres.

E-6 A toy train crosses 210 and 122 metre long tunnels in 25 and 17 seconds respectively. Find the length of train and speed
of train.
S-6 The train crosses two stationary objects.
The length of train (Lt) and the speed of train (Vt) both are not known, so using equation (3), we get,
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
2 1
2 2 2 1 1 1
t
t t
) t V (L ) t V (L
V

+ +

Where, L1 = 210m t1 = 25s V1 = 0

L2 = 122m t2 = 17s V2 = 0
Vt = ?
11m/s V m/s
17 25
122 210
V
t t

Speed of train is 11 metre/s

For finding length of train (Lt), Equation (2) is used.
1
1
1 t
t
V
t
L L
V +
+

65m L
25
210 L
11
t
t

+

Length of train is 65 metres.
E-7 150 metres long train crosses a bridge of length 250 metres in 30 seconds. Find the time for train to cross a platform of
130 metres. (ITI" 83)
S-7 The train crosses two stationary objects, using Equation (2),
2
2
2 t
1
1 t
1
V
t
L L
t
L L
V +
+

+
+
Where L1 = 250 m V1 = V2 = 0 L2 = 130 m

2
t
130 150
30
250 150 +

+
t2 = 21 s. Train crosses the platform in 21 s.
E-8 A train with 90 km/h crosses a bridge in 36 seconds. Another train 100 metres shorter crosses the same bridge at 45
km/h. Find the time taken by the second train to cross the bridge.
S-8 Length of bridge is not known
Length of neither train is known
Let, length of first train = Lt1
Length of second train = Lt2 and Lt1 Lt2 = 100 metre
Speed of first train = Vt1 = 90 km/h = 25 metre/s
25 Speed of second train = Vt2 = 45 km/h =
2
25
metre/s
Time taken by first train to cross a bridge t1 = 36 s
Time taken by second train to cross a bridge t2 = ?
Here, two trains are crossing the Same bridge and length of the bridge is not known.
Using the formula for two trains crossing the same object.
Vt1 t1 Lt1 = Vt2 t2 Lt2 [Refer Equation (4)]

t2 2 t1
L t
2
25
L 36 25
s. 64
2 2
t t
2
25
36 25 100
E-9 A train 100 metres long takes
5
3
3 seconds to cross a man walking at the rate of 6 km/h in a direction opposite to that of
train. Find the speed of the train.
S-9 Let the speed of train = Vt = ?
Speed of man V = -6 km/h
Using equation (2), for moving man,
V V
L L
t
t
t

JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)

VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE

[ ]
18
5
6) ( V
0 100
5
18
t

+

km/h 94 +
t t
V 100 6 V
Speed of train is 94 km/h.
E-10 A train 75 metres long overtook a man who was walking at the rate of 6 km/h and passed him in 18 seconds. Again, the
train overtook a second person in 15 seconds. At what rate was the second person travelling?
S-10 The train crosses two moving objects.
Using Equation (2),
2
2
2 t
1
1
1 t
V
t
L L
V
t
L L
+
+
+
+

2
V
15
0 75
18
5
6
18
0 75
+
+
+
+
km/h 3 km/h
5
18
6
5
m/s
6
5
V
2
E-11 Two trains, 130 and 110 metres long, while going in the same direction, the faster train takes one minute to pass the
other completely. If they are moving in opposite direction, they pass each other completely in 3 seconds. Find the speed
of trains.
S-11 Length of first train L1 = 130 metre
Length of second train L2 = 110 metre
Time to pass in Opposite direction t1 = 3 s
Time to pass in Same direction t2 = 60 s
Using he formula,
Speed of faster train m/s
60
1
3
1
2
110 130
t
1
t
1
2
L L
2 1
2 1
1
]
1

+
+

1
]
1

+
+

= 42 metre/s Speed of faster train is 42 metre/s

Using the formula,
Speed of slower train =
1
]
1

+
2 1
2 1
t
1
t
1
2
L L

= m/s 38 m/s
60
1
3
1
2
110 130

1
]
1

+
Speed of slower train is 38 m/s.
EXERCISE
1. A train 75 metre long is running with a speed of 18 km/h. In what time it will pass a tree? [15 s]
2. A train 400 metre long is running with a speed of 54 km/h. In what time will it pass a 200 metre long tunnel?
[40 s]
3. A train 150 metre long takes 20 seconds to cross a platform 45 metre long. Find the speed of train.
[108 km/h]
4. A train 300 metre long is running at a speed of 25 metre/s. It will cross a bridge of 200 metre in t seconds. Find the value
of t. [20 s]
5. A train 200 metre long is running at a speed of 78 km/h. In what time will it pass a man running at 6 km/h in the same
direction? [10 s]
6. A train 300 metre long is running at a speed of 62 km/h. In what time will it pass a man running at 10 km/h in the
opposite direction of the train? [15 s]
7. A train 240 metre long, takes 24 seconds to cross a man running at 10 km/h in the same direction of the train. Find the
speed of the train. [46 km/h]
8. A train 225 metre long, takes 15 seconds to cross a man running at V km/h in the opposite direction of the train. Find the
value of V if the speed of train is 44 km/h. [10 km/h]
9. A train running at a speed of 52 km/h takes 15 seconds to pass a man running at 4 km/h in the same direction. Find the
length of train. [200 m]
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
10. A train running at a speed of 48 km/h, takes 10 seconds to pass a man running at 6 km/h in the opposite direction. Find
the length of the train. [150 m]
11. A bullock cart 5 metre long is crossing a bridge 235 metre long. If the speed of bullock cart is 4.8 km/h, find in what
time will it pass the bridge? [3 minutes]
12. A train running at 48 km/h crosses a telegraph post in 15 seconds. Find the time it will take to cross a bridge 240 metre
long? [33 s]
13. A train running at 54 km/h crosses a telegraph post in 18 seconds less time than it takes to cross a platform. Find the
length of platform. [270 m]
14. The train crosses a man standing on a platform of 240 metre length in 13 seconds and crosses the total platform in 25
seconds. Find the speed of train and length of train. [72 km/h, 260 m]
15. A man started running at a distance of 225 metre from the train. If the speed of the man is 6 km/h, then how much time
should the train wait so that the man will be just able to catch it?
1
]
1

min
4
1
2
16. A train crosses a bridge 250 metre long in 30 seconds and crosses another tunnel 150 metre long in 20 seconds. Find the
length and the speed of the train. [50 m, 10 m/s]
17. 150 metre train crosses a bridge 250 metre long in 4 seconds. Find the time for train to cross a platform 300 metre long.
[45 s]
18. Local trains leave from a station at an interval of 15 minutes at a speed of 16 km/h. A man moving from opposite side
meets the trains at an interval of 12 minutes. Find the speed of the man. [4 km/h]
19. Local trains leave from a station at an interval of 14 minutes at a speed of 36 km/h. A man moving in the same direction
along the road meets the trains at an interval of 18 minutes. Find the speed of the man. [8 km/h]
20. A train running at 36 km/h takes 54 seconds to pass a platform. Next it takes 42 seconds to pass a man walking at 6 km/h
in the same direction. Find the length of train and length of platform. [280, 170 metres]
21. A train running at 36 km/h takes 15 seconds to pass a platform. Next it takes 9 seconds to pass a man walking at 6 km/h
in the opposite direction. Find the length of train and length of platform. [105 metres, 45 metres]
22. A train crosses a man at 6 km/h in opposite direction in 12 seconds and a platform 120 metre long in 22 seconds. Find
the speed of train. [36 km/h]
23. A train crosses a platform at 54 km/h in 20 seconds. Another train is 150 metres shorter than the former and is running at
36 km/h, find the time the second train will take to cross the same platform. [150 m]
24. A train crosses a man running at 9 km/h in 40 seconds and another man running at 6 km/h in same direction in 30
seconds. Find the speed of train and the length of train. [18 km/h, 100 metres]
25. A train 150 metres long passes a telegraph post in 12 seconds. Find in what time, it will pass a bridge 250 metres long?
[32 s]
26. Two trains are moving in the same direction at 40 and 50 km/h. The faster train crosses a man in the slower train in 28
seconds. Find the length of the faster train. [280 metres]
27. A train clears a platform 200 metres long in 10 seconds and passes a telegraph post in 5 seconds. Find the length and
speed of train. [200 metres, 144 km/h]
28. Two trains 148 and 140 metres long are running towards each other, one at 32 km/h and other at 40 km/h. In what time
they will be clear of each other from the moment they meet? [144 s]
29. Two trains of length 110 and 90 metres are running at 45 and 50 km/h respectively in the same direction. In what time
will they pass each other? [144 s]
SPEED TEST - 20
Paper No. 1 [Time: 7min.]
1. A 120 metres long train speeds past a pole in 10 seconds. What is the speed in km/h?
(a) 60 km/h (b) 75 km/h (c) 50 km/h (d) Data insufficient (e) None of these
2. If a train running at 72 km/h crosses a coconut tree standing by the side of the track in 7 seconds, the length of train is
(a) 104 metres (b) 140 metres (c) 504 metres (d) 540 metres (e) None of these
3. A man running at 18 km/h crosses a bridge in 2 minutes. The length of the bridge is
(a) 1.2 km (b) 0.6 km (c) 1 km (d) 3.6 km (e) None of these
4. A train 110 metres long passes a telegraph pole in 3 seconds. How long will it take to cross a railway platform 165
metres long?
(a) 4 s (b) 10 s (c) 5 s (d) 7
2
1
s (e) 12 s
5. A train 100 metres long running at 36 km/h can cross a bridge 150 metres long in,
(a) 20 s (b) 25 s (c) 15 s (d) 22 s (e) 30 s
6. In/how many seconds will a train 105 metres long, running at 51 km/h, cross a man walking at 3 km/h in opposite
direction?
(a) 12 s (b) 2.75 s (c) 5 s (d) 7 s (e) 10 s
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)
VISHAL JALAN (THE MATHS GURU) PURE TEACHING, NOTHING ELSE
7. A train 120 metres long, travelling at 45 km/h, overtakes another train travelling in the same direction at 36 km/h and
passes it completely in 80 seconds. The length of the second train is
(a) 100 metres (b) 75 metres (c) 80 metres (d) 120 metres (e) 110 metres
8. A train of unknown length crosses a platform L1 metres in t1 seconds and also crosses a telegraph post in to seconds. Then
speed of train Vt is
(a) ) t (t L
0 1 1
(b)
0 1
1
t t
L

(c)
2
0
1 1
t
t L
(d)
0 1
1 1
t t
t L
+
(e) Data insufficient
Paper No. 2 [Time - 6 min.]
9. A train crosses two platforms of L1 metres and L2 metres in t1 seconds and t2 seconds respectively. If the length of train is
Lt, then
(a)
2 1
2 1
t
t t
L L
L
+
+
(b)
2 1 2 1 t
t t ) L (L L (c)
2
2 t
1
t 1
t
L L
t
L L +

+
(d)
2 1 2 1 t
t t L L L
(e) None of these
10. A train consists of 12 boggies, each boggy 15 metres long. The train crosses a telegraph post in 18 seconds. Due to some
problem, two boggies were detached. The train now crosses a telegraph post in
(a) 18 s (b) 12 s (c) 15 s (d) 20 s (e) None of these
11. A train of unknown length crosses two platforms of L1 metres and L2 metres in t1 seconds and t2 seconds respectively. Then the speed
of the train (Vt) is
(a)
2 1
t
2 1
t t
V
L L
+ (b)
t
2 1 2 1
V
t
1
t
1
L
1
L
1
1
]
1

+ +
(c)
t 2 2 1 1
V t t L + L (d)
2 1
2 1
t
t t
L L
V

(e) Data insufficient

12. A train of length Lt crosses a man moving in opposite direction at Vm metre / s in tm seconds. If the speed of train is Vt
m/s, then
(C)
m t
t
m
V V
L
t
+

(b)
m t
t
m
V V
L
t

(c)
m
t
m t
t
L
V V
(d)
t m
m
t
t
V V
t
L
V +
(e) Data insufficient
13. Two trains running at V1 m/s and V2 m/s crosses the same tunnel in t1 seconds and t2 seconds respectively. If the
difference of lengths of two trains is x metres then
(a)
2 2 1 1
t V t V x (b)
2 2 1 1
t V
1
t V
1
x
1
+
(c)
2 2 1 1
t V t V x + (d)
1 t V
t V
x
2 2
1 1
+
(e) None of
these
Paper No: 3 [Time 6.5 min]
14. A train running at a speed of 84 km/h crosses a man running at a speed of 6 km/h in the opposite direction in 4 seconds.
The length of the train in metres is
(a) 180 (b) 75 (c) 200 (d) 150 (e) None of these
15. Two trains 180 and 220 metres long are running in opposite directions at 40 and 50 km/h respectively. They cross each
other in
(a) 16 s (b) 17s (c) 18 s (d) 22 s (e) 20 s
16. The driver of a maruti car driving at the speed of 68 km/h locates a bus 40 metres ahead of him. After 10 seconds, the bus is 60 metres
behind. The speed of the bus is
(a) 30 km/h (b) 32 km/h (c) 25 km/h (d) 38 km/h (e) 6.8 km/h
17. Two trains of equal length are running on parallel lines in the same direction at the rate of 65 and 44 km/h The faster train passes the
slower train in 48 seconds. The length of each train is
(a) 120 metres (b) 150 metres (c) 100 metres (d) 140 metres (e) 720 metres
18. A train 150 metres long passes a tree in 12 seconds. It will pass a tunnel 250 metres long in
(a) 20 s (b) 25 s (c) 32 s (d) 26 s (e) 36 s
19. Rajdhani Express train travelling at a uniform speed clears a platform 200 metres long in 10 seconds and passes a telegraph post in 6
seconds. The speed of train is
(a) 150 km/h (b) 180 km / h (c) 200 km/h (d) 175 km/h (e) 220 km/h
20. A train 100 metres long meets a man going in opposite direction at 5 km/h and passes him in 7
5
1
seconds. The speed of the train is
(a) 40 km/h (b) 45 km/h (c) 36 km/h (d) 52 km/h (e) 42 km/h
JALAN TUTORIALS, 13/5, SWARN PATH, MANSAROWAR, JAIPUR (M: 9828266445)