When a Train Leaves Ciudad A at 8:00 AM Traveling to Ciudad B at 80 km/h, and Another Leaves Ciudad B at 9:00 AM at 120 km/h—Find the Exact Meeting Time on the 600 km Route

Traveling between two cities by train is a common scenario, but when two trains head toward each other from different starting points at different times, calculating their meeting point and time involves careful planning. This article explains step-by-step how to solve the problem: when a train leaves Ciudad A at 8:00 AM traveling at 80 km/h, and another departs Ciudad B at 9:00 AM toward Ciudad A at 120 km/h, with the cities 600 km apart, what time and location do the trains meet?


Understanding the Context

Base Information

  • Distance between Ciudad A and Ciudad B: 600 km
  • Train 1 departs Ciudad A at 8:00 AM, speed 80 km/h
  • Train 2 departs Ciudad B at 9:00 AM, speed 120 km/h

Step 1: Determine the head start distance

Key Insights

By 9:00 AM, the first train has already traveled for 1 hour alone.
Distance covered in that hour = speed × time = 80 km/h × 1 h = 80 km

So, at 9:00 AM, the remaining distance between the two trains when Train 2 starts is:
600 km – 80 km = 520 km


Step 2: Relative speed when both trains are moving toward each other

After both trains are in motion (Train 1 from Ciudad A, Train 2 from Ciudad B), their speeds add because they’re approaching each other.

Final Thoughts

Total relative speed = 80 km/h + 120 km/h = 200 km/h


Step 3: Calculate time to meet after 9:00 AM

Now, the trains are 520 km apart and closing the gap at 200 km/h.

Time to meet = Distance / Relative Speed
Time = 520 km / 200 km/h = 2.6 hours

Convert 0.6 hours to minutes:
0.6 × 60 = 36 minutes

So, the trains meet at 9:00 AM + 2 hours 36 minutes = 11:36 AM


Final Answer

The two trains will meet at 11:36 AM on the route between Ciudad A and Ciudad B.