Timetables and journeys | Year 8

01 / LEARN

Understand the idea.

Keep each part of a journey

A journey timeline includes every interval between the first departure and final arrival. Record travelling legs and the waits between them in order. Use one local clock for all readings; if zones differ, convert them before subtracting.

The gap between arriving at a station and boarding the next service is part of the elapsed journey. Add all travel and waiting intervals, then check that the result also equals the interval from first departure to final arrival.

One morning journey — all times use the same clock
Leg	Departure	Arrival
Bus to station	08:15	08:42
Train to city	08:50	09:27

A connection needs more than a positive gap

A connection works only if its gap meets the stated transfer requirement. An arrival before departure is necessary, but it may leave too little time to walk between platforms. A minimum of 6 minutes permits exactly 6 minutes, but not 5.

Test departures in time order when asked for the first feasible service. For a latest-start question, work backwards from the arrival deadline. Include every stated walk, delay and boarding allowance so that the chosen journey satisfies all the conditions.

02 / WORKED EXAMPLES

See the method in action.

EXAMPLE 01

Travel plus waiting

Use the morning timetable to find bus time, waiting time, train time and total journey time.

Morning journey
Leg	Departure	Arrival
Bus	08:15	08:42
Train	08:50	09:27

Worked solution

1
Calculate the bus leg.
$08:42 - 08:15 = 27 min$
The timetable gives departure and arrival on the same morning.
2
Include the wait at the station.
$08:50 - 08:42 = 8 min$
Elapsed journey time continues while the passenger waits.
3
Calculate the train leg.
$08:50 to 09:27 = 10 min + 27 min = 37 min$
Split at 09:00 to subtract across the hour.
4
Add and check the whole interval.
$\begin{aligned} 27 + 8 + 37 & = 72 min \\ 08:15 to 09:27 & = 1 h 12 min \end{aligned}$
The component total agrees with the first-departure-to-final-arrival interval.

Answer

27 min, 8 min, 37 min; total 1 h 12 min.

EXAMPLE 02

A transfer rule

A bus reaches a station at 16:32. Trains leave at 16:37 and 16:52. At least 6 minutes are needed to transfer. Which train is the first possible one?

Worked solution

1
Test the earlier train.
$16:37 - 16:32 = 5 min < 6 min$
Five minutes does not meet the minimum transfer time.
2
Test the next train.
$16:52 - 16:32 = 20 min \geq 6 min$
Twenty minutes is enough for the stated transfer.
3
Choose the first feasible departure.
$16:52$
The only earlier listed train fails the transfer requirement.

Answer

16:52.

03 / YOUR TURN

Try it yourself.

Check your understanding

A bus arrives at 09:18; a train departs at 09:25. Is a 7-minute minimum transfer satisfied?

Show answer & reasoning

Yes, exactly.

The gap is $09:25 - 09:18 = 7 min$ . An exactly 7-minute gap satisfies an 'at least 7 minutes' requirement.

Keep practising

6 worksheet questions · 12 marks

Open worksheet Worked solutions

Read the questions online

A bus leaves at 07:40 and arrives at 08:12. Find the travel time.
2 marks
You arrive at 10:46 and the next service leaves at 11:05. Find the waiting time.
2 marks
Leg 1 takes 28 min, the wait is 12 min and leg 2 takes 35 min. Find total time.
2 marks
Arrival is 14:24. Departures are 14:29, 14:36 and 14:50. A transfer needs at least 8 min. Choose the first possible departure.
2 marks
A service arrives at 12:20 after travelling for 45 minutes. Its departure stop is a 10-minute walk from home. What is the latest time to leave home if no extra boarding time is needed?
2 marks
A journey starts at 08:10, includes 25 min travel, 15 min wait and 40 min travel. Find arrival and check total time.
2 marks

Read the worked solutions

Equivalent correct methods earn the corresponding marks. Include units where asked.

A bus leaves at 07:40 and arrives at 08:12. Find the travel time.
2 marks
$20 min to 08:00 + 12 min = 32 min$ .
32 min.
You arrive at 10:46 and the next service leaves at 11:05. Find the waiting time.
2 marks
$14 min to 11:00 + 5 min = 19 min$ .
19 min.
Leg 1 takes 28 min, the wait is 12 min and leg 2 takes 35 min. Find total time.
2 marks
$28 + 12 + 35 = 75$ .
75 min, or 1 h 15 min.
Arrival is 14:24. Departures are 14:29, 14:36 and 14:50. A transfer needs at least 8 min. Choose the first possible departure.
2 marks
14:29 allows 5 min and fails; 14:36 allows 12 min and works.
14:36.
A service arrives at 12:20 after travelling for 45 minutes. Its departure stop is a 10-minute walk from home. What is the latest time to leave home if no extra boarding time is needed?
2 marks
$Service departure = 12:20 - 45 min = 11:35$ .
Leave home 10 min earlier: 11:25.
11:25.
A journey starts at 08:10, includes 25 min travel, 15 min wait and 40 min travel. Find arrival and check total time.
2 marks
$25 + 15 + 40 = 80$ min.
$08:10 + 1 h 20 min = 09:30$ .
09:30; total 80 min.

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Curriculum reference & lesson scope

Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics

Converting 12-/24-hour time; elapsed time across midnight; timetables and journeys; time-zone differences; date changes; checking real-world scheduling answers.

Official curriculum source ↗

In this lesson

Understand the idea.

Keep each part of a journey

A connection needs more than a positive gap

See the method in action.

Travel plus waiting

Calculate the bus leg.

Include the wait at the station.

Calculate the train leg.

Add and check the whole interval.

A transfer rule

Test the earlier train.

Test the next train.

Choose the first feasible departure.

Try it yourself.

Check your understanding

Keep practising