Timetables, Duration and the 24-Hour Clock
Building on basic clock reading, the harder 11+ timetable questions give a full timetable with several stops or several competing services, and ask for tasks such as the length of one specific leg of a journey, the waiting time at a connection, which of several services to catch to arrive by a given deadline, or a duration that crosses midnight from the 24-hour clock back round to 00:00.
Method
- Read every relevant row and column of the timetable carefully before calculating anything, checking exactly which stop and which service the question is asking about.
- To find the length of one leg of a journey, subtract the departure time from that leg's arrival time, working in stages via the next whole hour if it helps.
- To find a waiting time at a connection, subtract the arrival time of the first service from the departure time of the connecting service.
- When comparing several services to find which one to catch, list out the relevant arrival or departure times and compare them directly, rather than estimating.
- When a journey or duration crosses midnight, count the minutes from the departure time up to 24:00 (midnight), then add on the minutes from 00:00 to the arrival time.
- State your final answer in the format the question asks for, either a total duration in hours and minutes, or a specific clock time, using the 24-hour clock unless told otherwise.
Worked example
A bus timetable shows three services from Elm Street to Oak Road. Service 1 departs 07:15 and arrives 07:58. Service 2 departs 07:40 and arrives 08:10. Service 3 departs 08:05 and arrives 08:42. Priya must arrive at Oak Road no later than 08:15. Which service should she catch to leave Elm Street as late as possible, and how long does that journey take?
- List the arrival times of all three services: Service 1 at 07:58, Service 2 at 08:10, Service 3 at 08:42.
- Compare each arrival time to the 08:15 deadline: Service 1 (07:58) and Service 2 (08:10) both arrive on time; Service 3 (08:42) arrives too late.
- Of the services that meet the deadline, choose the one that departs latest, since this lets Priya leave Elm Street as late as possible: this is Service 2, departing 07:40.
- Find the length of Service 2's journey: from 07:40 to 08:00 is 20 minutes, then 08:00 to 08:10 is a further 10 minutes.
- Add the two parts together: 20 + 10 = 30 minutes. Priya should catch Service 2, and the journey takes 30 minutes.
Practice questions
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Q1A train departs 09:20 and arrives 10:05. How long does the journey take?Show answer
Answer: 45 minutes (09:20 to 10:00 is 40 minutes, then 10:00 to 10:05 is a further 5 minutes)
Q2Two trains connect at a station: the first arrives at 14:35, and the connecting train departs at 14:50. How long is the wait?Show answer
Answer: 15 minutes
Q3A coach departs 23:45 and the journey takes 40 minutes. At what time, using the 24-hour clock, does it arrive?Show answer
Answer: 00:25 the next day (23:45 to 24:00 is 15 minutes, leaving 25 more minutes after midnight)
Q4Three buses depart Sycamore Road at 08:10, 08:35 and 09:00. Which is the latest one that Priya can catch if she must depart by 08:40 at the latest?Show answer
Answer: The 08:35 bus
Q5A ferry departs 21:50 and arrives 00:15 the next day. How long is the crossing?Show answer
Answer: 25 minutes (21:50 to 00:00 is 10 minutes, then 00:00 to 00:15 is a further 15 minutes)
Q6A train stops at three stations: Ashby (departs 10:05), Bilton (arrives 10:28, departs 10:33), Colworth (arrives 10:56). How long does the whole journey from Ashby to Colworth take, including the stop at Bilton?Show answer
Answer: 51 minutes (10:56 - 10:05)
Q7Using the timetable in the previous question, how long does the train wait at Bilton?Show answer
Answer: 5 minutes (10:33 - 10:28)
Q8A cinema showing starts at 22:40 and lasts 2 hours 5 minutes. At what time, using the 24-hour clock, does it finish?Show answer
Answer: 00:45 the next day (22:40 to 24:00 is 1 hour 20 minutes, leaving 45 more minutes after midnight)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A bus timetable shows four services from Park Gate to Mill Lane. Service A departs 07:50, arrives 08:22. Service B departs 08:05, arrives 08:40. Service C departs 08:30, arrives 09:05. Service D departs 08:45, arrives 09:15. Tom must arrive at Mill Lane no later than 09:00. Which service should he catch to leave Park Gate as late as possible, and how long is that journey?
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A night coach itinerary is as follows: it leaves Hartley at 22:35, arrives at Riverford at 23:50, waits there, then leaves again at 00:10 the next day, arriving at its final stop, Seaton, at 01:25. (a) How long is the first leg, from Hartley to Riverford? (b) How long does the coach wait at Riverford? (c) How long is the second leg, from Riverford to Seaton?
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the timetables, duration and the 24-hour clock worksheet pack - 7 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 13 of 11+ Maths Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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