Problems on Trains

Trains and Boats

Basic Formulaes:
1. Time = Distance / Speed

2. Distance = Speed x Time

3. Speed = Distance / Time

Relative Speed :
Same Direction :
In Same Direction The
Relative speed is
Substracted
Relative speed = S1 – S2 ( S1> S2)

Opposite Direction :
In the opposite Direction The
Relative speed is
Added
Relative speed = S1 + S2
 Negligible and Non Negligible lengths
Negligible lenghts:
Total Distance covered by the train :
D = L(train) + L(Tree)(0)

D = L(train) + L(Pole)(0)

D = L(train) + L(Telephone Stand)(0)

 Non negligible lengths while considering
Distance.
Total Distance covered by the train :
D = L(train) + L(Bridge)

D = L(train) + L(train)

D = L(train) + L(tunnel)
 Units Conversion Chart
 Conversion form Km/Hr to M/sec
Ex : 36Km/Hr = 36 * (5/18) = 10 m/sec

Conversion form M/sec to Km/Hr

Ex: 125M/sec = 25*(18/5) = 90Km/Hr

Note: Check the Units of Speed , Distance and

Time are in the same metric
 Relative Speed
 relative speed as the speed of a moving body with respect to
another.

 When two bodies move in the same direction, their relative

speed is Given by their difference. Rs = S1-S2

 when two bodies are moving in the opposite direction the

relative speed is calculated by adding the speed of both the
bodies. Rs = S1+S2
 Lets Start
1.A train of length 250m, passes a platform of 350m length in
50s. What time will this train take to pass the platform of
230m length? (Wipro)
a)45s b)35s c)42s d) 40s e) None of these
2. From stations A and B , two trains start moving towards each
other with the speeds of 150km/hr and 130km/hr ,
respectively. When the two trains meet each other, it is found
that one train covers 20km more than that of another train.
Find the distance between stations A and B.( Infosys)
a)260 km b) 280 km c)275 km d) 240 km
3. Two trains leave ranchi to pune at 10:00am and 10:30am ,
respectively and travel at 120km/hr and 150km/hr,
respectively.
Q1 How many kilometres from ranchi will the two trains
meet? a) 200 b)250 c) 450 d)300 e) none of these
1. L(t) = 250m , L(p) = 350m , T = 50s
S = (250+350)/50
= 600/50 = 12m/sec
time taken to pass the platform of 230m length
= (230 + 250)/12 = 40 Seconds.
2. x d y d+20 z
t t
t = (d+20)/150 , t = d/130 assume “t” constant
They start at same time
d/ 130 = (d+20)/ 150 = 15d = 13d + 260
2d = 260 , d = 130
The distance between the two stations = d+d+20 = 260 + 20 = 280
3. 120km is covered in 1hr by by Train 1
so 60km is covered in 30min by Train 1
Rs = (150- 120)km/hr = 30km/hr
Time taken by Train 2 to cover
= 60 / 30 = 2hrs
The Distance from Ranchi where the two trains will meet
= 150 * 2 = 300km
4. A train overtakes two persons who are walking at the
rate of 4km/hr and 8km/hr in the same direction and
passes them completely in 18 and 20s, respectively.
Find the length of the train.
a) 100 b) 150 c) 200 d) 250
5. Two trains “a” and “b” start form patna and
mumbai towards mumbai and patna , respectively.
After passing each other, they take 8hr and 12h 30min
to reach mumbai and patna , If the train from mumbai
moving at 60km/hr, then find the speed of the other
train .
a)5: 4 b) 5:3 c)4:5 d) 5:2
4. Let length = x meters , s = y m/s
S1 = 4kmph = 4*(5/18) = 10/9m/s
S2 = 8kmph = 8*(5/18) = 20/9m/s
T = D/S , 18 = x/[y – (10/9)] => x = 18y-20 eq1
20 = x/[y-(20/9)] => 9x = 180y -400 eq2
Multiply eq1 with 10 and solve we get x = 200
which is the length of the train.
5.
6.Without stoppage , the speed of a train is 54km/hr and with
stoppage , it is 45km/hr. For how many minutes, does the train
stop per hour?
a) 9min b) 11min c) 10min d) 5min

7. The distance between two stations X and Y is 138km.A train starts

from X towards Y and another from Y to X at the same time and
they meet after 6h. The train travelling from X to Y is slower by
7km/hr compared to other train from Y to X, then find the speed
of the both trains.
a)10kmph b) 7kmph c) 5kmph d)8kmph e) none
6.
Solution: Without stoppages distance covered by train per hour
= 54km
With stoppages distance covered by train = 45km
Lcm of 54 and 45 = 270km
time taken to cover 270km (Without stoppages) = 270/54 =
5hrs
time taken to cover 270km (Without stoppages) = 270/45 =
6hrs

Time in minutes the train stops per 1 hr = (6-5)/5 = 1/6 hr

1hr = 60 min
(1/6)60 = 10min.
7.
Let speed of faster train is = a

T = D/S
Opposite Direction:
Rs = S1 + S2
Let speed of slower train is = a -7
R s = 2a-7
138/(2a-7) = 6
138 = 12a-42
a = 15kmph speed of faster train ,
Speed of slower train = 15-7 = 8kmph
8. Two trains of equal length, running in
opposite directions, pass a pole in 18 and 12
seconds. The trains will cross each other in
a) 14.2 s b) 14.4s c) 13.4s d) 12.4 s

9. A train speed past a pole in 15 seconds and a

platform 100 m long in 25 seconds. Its length
is
a)120m b) 130m c) 150m d) 140m
Solutions:
8.

9. => 15(x + 100) = 25x

=> 15x + 1500 = 25x
=> 1500 = 10x
=> x = 150 m.
10. A car travels first half distance between two places
with a speed of 40 km/hr and rest of the half
distance with a speed of 60 km/hr. The average
speed of the car is:
a) 48 km/hr b) 37 km/hr c) 44 km/hr d) 45 km/hr

11. A man sitting on a train travelling at the rate of

50 km/hr observes that it takes 9 sec for goods train
travelling in the opposite direction to pass him. If
the goods train is 187.5m long. Find its speed.
a)40 km/hr b) 30 km/hr c) 24 km/hr d) 25 km/hr
Solutions:
10.Let the total distance covered be x km.
Total time taken=
x/(2×40)+x/(2×60)=5x/240
Average speed =x*240/5x
= 48 km/hr
11.Let the speed of goods train be x km/hr.
Then, (50+x)×(5/18)=187.5/9

⇒ x= 25 km/hr
12. What is the speed of the train whose length is 210 metres?
I. The train crosses another train (Howrah Express/12869) of 300
metres length running in opposite direction in 10 seconds.
 II. The train crosses another train (Howrah Express/12869)
running in the same direction at the speed of 60 km/hr in 30
seconds.

a)I alone sufficient while II alone not sufficient to answer

b)II alone sufficient while I alone not sufficient to answer
c)Either I or II alone sufficient to answer
d)Both I and II are not sufficient to answer
e) Both I and II are necessary to answer
 
12.
13. An express A starts at 2.30 pm from nampali
station and travels towards vizag station at
speed of 80 kmph. Another express starts at
4.30 pm from nampali station to vizag station
at speed of 100 kmph. How far away from
station Nampali will the two trains meet?
A.600 km B.700 km C.750 km D. 800 km
Solutions:
13. Let train A take x hours to reach the point of
meeting(let it be P)
Then train B will reach the same point in
x-2 hours.
Distance covered to reach P by train A in x
hours=Distance covered by B to reach P in x-2 hrs.
80*x=100(x-2)
80x=100x-200
x=10 hrs.
Distance from Nampali=x*speed of train A
=10*80
=800 km
14. Two Trains running in opposite directions cross a
man standing on the platform in 27seconds and 17
seconds respectively and they cross each other in 23
seconds the ratio of their speeds is
a) 1:3 b) 3:2 c) 3:4 d) None of these

15.A Jogger running at 9kmph alongside a railway track

is 240m ahead of the engine of a 120meter long train
running at 45kmph in the same direction. In how
much time will the train pass the jogger?
a) 3.6sec b) 18s c) 36s d) 72s
Solutions:
14.Let S1 = x m/s, S2 = y m/s
length(1st train) = 27x
length(2nd train) = 17y
23 = (l1+l2)/(S1+S2)
23 = (27x+17y)/(x+y)
23x+23y = 27x + 17y
23y – 17y = 27x-23x
6y = 4x
x/y = 3/2
15. Js = 9km/hr

120m, 45kmph 240m 9kmph

T = (240+120)/10
= 360/10 =

Where Rs = (45-9) = 36kmph

36 * (5/18) = 10m/s
Boats and streams
“U”
Speed of the boat in still water
“V”
Speed of the stream
“x”
Speed the boat in Downstream
“y”
Speed of boat in Upstream
Formulaes:
• In Downstream speed of Boat
and stream speed are added.
U = (x+y) / 2
V = (x-y) / 2
• In Upstream speed of Boat
and stream speed are Subtracted
(U > V)
U :V= x+y :x-y
Problems to solve:
Q1 . A man can row with a speed of 6km/hr in
Still water. What will be his speed with the
stream, if the speed of stream is 2km/hr?
a) 7kmph b) 8kmph c) 8.5kmph d) 9kmph
Q2. A motorboat whose speed is 15 km/hr in
still water goes 30km downstream and
comes back in four and a half hours. The
speed of the stream is (cognizant)
a)4.5 km/hr b)6 km/hr c) 7 km/hr d) 5 km/hr
Solutions :
1.Given speed of the boat u = 6 km/hr and
stream speed v = 2km/hr
Speed of downstream = u+v = 6+2 = 8km/hr

2. Let the speed of the stream be x km/hr. Then,

Speed downstream = (15 + x) km/hr,
Speed upstream = (15 - x) km/hr.
30/(15 + x) + 30/ (15 - x) = 4 1/2
900/(225 - x2) = 9/2
9x2 = 225
x2 = 25
x = 5 km/hr.
Problems to solve:
Q3. A boat covers a distance of 30 km
downstream in 2 hours while it takes 6 hours
to cover the same distance upstream. What is
the speed of the boat in km/hr (Infosys)
a) 5 b) 7.5 c) 10 d) 12
Solutions :
3. Speed of boat downstream
= Distance coveredTime taken=30/2 = 15
km/h
Now, speed of boat upstream
= Distance coveredTime taken=30/6 = 5 km/h
Now, speed of boat
= (Speed downstream+Speed upstream)/2
= (15+5)/2=20/2 = 10 km/h
Problems to solve:
Q4. If Rahul rows 15 km upstream in 3 hours and 21 km
downstream in 3 hours, then the speed of the stream
is (Infosys)
5 km/hr b) 4 km/hr c) 2 km/hr d)1 km/hr

Q5. Rishu Patel is a boatman in Ganga River at Patna.

He takes twice as long to row a distance against the
stream as to row the same distance in favour of the
stream. The ratio of the speed of the boat in still
water and stream is (MIND TREE)
a) 3:1 b) 1:2 c) 4:3 d)3:2
Solutions :
5. Rate upstream = (15/3) = 5kmph
Rate downstream (21/3) kmph = 7 kmph.
Speed of stream (1/2)(7 - 5)kmph = 1 kmph

6. Let speed downstream = x kmph

Then Speed upstream = 2x kmph
So ratio will be,
(2x+x)/2 : (2x-x)/2
⇒ 3x/2 : x/2         ⇒ 3:1
Problems to solve:
Q7. Mohit Gaur is a fisherman in Odisa. He can
row 30 km upstream in 6 hours. If the speed
of Mohit Gaur in still water is 6 km/hr, find
how much he can row downstream in 10
hours. ( MIND TREE)
a) 70 km b) 140 km c) 200 km d) 250 km
Solutions :
7. Speed of upstream = 30 / 6 = 5 km / hr.
Speed of man in still water = 6 km / hr.
∴ Speed of current = 6 - 5 = 1 km / hr.
So speed of downstream = 6 + 1 = 7 km / hr.
∴ Distance traveled in 7 hrs = 10 * 7 = 70 km.
Problems to solve:
Q8. A boat takes 4 hours for travelling downstream from point
A to point B and coming back to point A upstream. If the
velocity of the stream is 2 kmph and the speed of the boat in
still water is 4 kmph, what is the distance between A and B?
(MIND TREE)
a) 9 km b) 3 km c) 6 km d) 2 km

Q9. If the speed of a swimmer in still water is 9km/hr.

Find the downstream speed of the swimmer , When
the river is flowing with the speed of 6km/hr.
a)15kmph b) 18kmph c) 3kmph d) 12kmph
e) None of these
Solutions :
9. Let the distance between A and B be x km.
Speed downstream = 6 kmph, speed upstream
= 2 kmph.
(x/6) + (x/2) = 4             ⇒ 4x = 24
∴ x = 6
10.
Problems to solve:
Q11. A person can row with the stream at
8km/hr and against the stream at 6km/hr. The
speed of the current is
a) 1kmph b) 2km/hr c) 4kmph d) 5kmph
Q12. The speed of a boat in still water is 500%
more than the speed of the current. What is
the respective ratio between the speed of the
boat downstream and the speed of the boat
upstream?
a)9:2 b) 7:3 c) 7:5 d) 9:4 e) 4:3
Solutions :
11.

12.
Problems to solve:

Q13. A man rows 12km in 5h against the stream , the speed of

current being 4km/hr. What time will be taken by him to row
15km with the stream?
a) 1h26(7/13)min b) 1h25(7/13)min c) 1h24(7/13)min
d) 1h 27(7/13)min.
Q14. A Steamer goes downstream from one port to another in 4h.
It Covers the same distance upstream in 5h. If the speed of the
the stream is 2km/hr, Then find the distance between the two
ports.
a) 50km b) 60km c) 70km d) 80km
Solutions :
13.
Solutions :
14. Let the distance between the two ports be x
km
Problems to solve:

Q15. A man can row 6 km/h in still water and the river flows at
4km/h. If he takes 1.5 h to row to a place and back, how far is
the place?
a) 1.5km b) 3.5km c) 2.5km d) 4.5km
Solutions:
15. Ans 2.5 km
Downstream speed = (6+4) km/h
Upstream speed = (6-4) km/h
Let distance be d, then
d/10 + d/2 = 3/2
10d = 30/2
Therefore d = 2.5 km
Problems to solve:

Q17. Vinny can row 15km/h in still water and it

takes twice as long to row up the stream than
to row down. Find the rate of the stream.

Q18. The speed of the stream is 5 km/h. A

motorboat goes 10 km upstream and back
again to the starting point in 50 min. The speed
of the motorboat in still water is?
 Solutions:
17. Ans 5km/h
Ration between downstream and upstream speed = 2:1
Let the upstream speed be 2x, then speed downstream will be x
Speed in still water = (v+u) / 2 = (2x + x) / 2 = 3x/2 = 15 (given)
Hence, x = 10 km/h
Speed of stream = (v-u)/2 = (20-10)/2 = 5 km/h

18. Ans 25km/h

Let the speed of the motorboat in still water be x km/h
Speed upstream = x-5 km/s
Speed downstream = x+5 km/h
Acc. to the question, 
{10 / (x-5)} + {10 / (x+5)} = 50/60
20x * 6 = (x2 - 25) * 5
X2 - 24x - 25 = 0
x(x-25) + 1(x-25) = 0
(x+1) (x-25) = 0
X = 25, as x can not be negative.
Problems to solve:
Q19. The speed of a boat is 36 km/h. It goes 56
km upstream in 1 hour 45 minutes. The
time taken by it to cover the same distance
down the stream will be?

Q20.A man can row 4.5 km/hr in still water and

he finds that it takes him twice as long to row
up as to row down the river. Find the rate of
the stream. (cognizant)
Solutions:
19. Ans 1 hour 24 mins
Speed upstream = (56*4)/7 = 32 km/h
Let the speed of the current = x km/h
Therefore 36-x = 32,
X = 4 km/h
Speed downstream = 36 + 4 = 40 km/h
Therefore time taken to cover 56 km at 40 km/hr = 56/40 = 7/5 h
= 1 h 24 min
The END