Important Terms Associated with the Train Schedule
Understanding these key terms will help you read any train time table on Indian Railways with confidence.
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
|
Departure Time
|
The scheduled time at which a train is set to leave a station. Departure times in the timetable are fixed by Indian Railways and remain constant unless the schedule is officially revised. Always check the departure time for your boarding station before travelling. |
|
Arrival Time
|
The scheduled time at which a train is expected to reach a particular station. The arrival time listed in the train time table represents the planned schedule. For origin stations, the arrival time column shows a dash (—) since the train starts its journey there. |
|
Platform Number
|
The train platform number shows the designated platform at a station where a train arrives or departs. Knowing the correct train platform number helps you reach the right spot before the train pulls in. Platform numbers are displayed in the Cleartrip timetable as a guide; Indian Railways may change the platform on the day of travel, so always verify on station display boards upon arrival. |
|
Origin
|
The starting station from which a train begins its journey. The origin station shows no arrival time in the timetable (marked as —) since the train originates there. Distance is always 0 km at the origin, and the journey day count starts from this point. |
|
Destination
|
The final station at which a train's journey ends. The destination shows no departure time (marked as —) since no onward journey is scheduled. The cumulative distance shown at the destination equals the total route length of the train. |
|
Halt Duration
|
The amount of time a train stops at an intermediate station, shown in minutes. During the halt, passengers can board or deboard. Halt durations range from 1–2 minutes at minor stations to 15–25 minutes at major junctions where crew changes or locomotive reversal occurs. |
|
Days of Operation
|
The specific days of the week on which a train runs according to the official railway timetable. Not all trains operate daily — some run on select days (e.g. Mon, Wed, Fri) or weekly. The days of operation are shown as highlighted pills in the Cleartrip schedule header. |
|
Intermediate Stations
|
All the stations between the origin and destination where the train makes a scheduled stop during its journey. Passengers can board or deboard at any intermediate station. On Cleartrip, you can click Book Ticket next to any intermediate station to start a booking from that stop. |
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