A train travels 180 miles at 60 mph, then continues for another 120 miles at 80 mph. What is the train's average speed for the entire journey?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:18:14 +0000

Title: How to Calculate Average Speed for a Two-Part Train Journey: A Detailed Breakdown When analyzing long-distance train travel, understanding average speed is crucial—especially when journeys include varying speeds over different distances. In this case, a train travels 180 miles at 60 mph, then continues another 120 miles at 80 mph. But what is the train’s overall average speed for the entire 300-mile journey? ### Understanding Average Speed Average speed is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. It’s not simply the arithmetic mean of the two speeds, because the train spends different amounts of time at each speed. Let’s break down the calculation step by step.