How to Read an Indian Train Timetable

Start with the train and route

A timetable page identifies a train and shows the stations on its listed route in sequence. Check the train number and name, then confirm that the origin and destination match your journey. Train numbers help distinguish services with similar names.

Understand the columns

• Arrival is the listed time a train is scheduled to reach a station. A dash usually means the schedule does not list an arrival time for that stop, often because it is the starting point.
• Departure is the listed time a train is scheduled to leave. A dash can appear at the final stop.
• Day shows the journey day counted from the train's origin. A later day can mean the train crosses midnight before reaching that stop.
• Halt is the scheduled stop duration when it is available in the source data.
• Distance is the listed route distance from the starting point, when provided.

A simple example

Suppose a route lists a station on Day 2 with arrival at 06:10 and departure at 06:13. Read this as a scheduled arrival on the second journey day and a three-minute planned halt. It does not promise the train will arrive at that exact time on your travel date.

Use the route in the right order

A station may appear on many routes. When comparing two stations, use the trains between stations search to find services that list both stops in the correct order. Open the train route page to see the other stops.

Remember that a timetable is not a live update

TrainTime pages are based on a dated timetable snapshot. Train operations and schedules can change. For travel today, check a current running status enquiry and confirm important information with railway announcements.