A train travels 300 miles at an average speed of 60 mph, then continues for another 200 miles at 80 mph. What is the average speed for the entire journey?

Sun, 03 May 2026 17:06:31 +0000

**Why Train Travel Speeds Matter — and How to Calculate Total Journey Speed** Why do more curious travelers keep asking: *What’s the average speed for a train that travels 300 miles at 60 mph, then another 200 miles at 80 mph?* This weighty question isn’t just about numbers — it reflects a growing interest in efficiency, travel planning, and understanding real-world transportation patterns. As Americans seek smarter commuting strategies and smarter investment choices in infrastructure, this classic speed puzzle keeps showing up in search — especially on mobile, where curious minds research on the go. What’s compelling now is a broader cultural focus on travel optimization. With rising fuel costs, increasing demand for sustainable transport, and shifting patterns in freight and passenger rail networks, understanding journey averages is becoming a practical skill. The query isn’t just academic — it’s a gateway to better planning, whether for commuting, shipping cargo, or evaluating rail investments. So, what’s the actual average speed of a train that travels 300 miles at 60 mph, then another 200 miles at 80 mph? The answer isn’t a simple average like 66.7 mph — because speed hier cavalry isn’t arithmetic. It’s a weighted average that factors distance and time. To truly grasp the result, we need to peel back the layers behind this math.