Connection Buffer Calculator
Evaluate the practical time available between two train journeys.
Compare the whole connection
A connecting route is a timetable option, not a reservation. Check both train dates, the exact interchange stations and seat availability on every leg.
A worked example
Illustrative example: arrival at 23:30 and onward departure at 02:15 the next day gives 2 hours 45 minutes. A 90-minute arrival delay leaves 75 minutes before the scheduled departure, before walking or road travel.
Illustrative only; not a real booking.Reference: RailRadar: journey planner API · Data and estimation methodology · Report a correction
Connection Buffer Calculator: how to use the result
Enter both dates, not only times
A connection from 23:30 arrival to 01:00 departure crosses midnight. Enter the next date for the second train. If stations differ, include the road transfer and the time needed to enter the second station and reach its platform.
Work through a realistic example
An arrival at 14:00 and departure at 16:00 leave 120 minutes on the timetable. If exiting, transferring and reaching the platform take 70 minutes, only 50 minutes remain for delay and other disruption. Those times are an example, not a recommended minimum for every station.
A positive result is not a protected connection
The calculation cannot predict delays or promise a replacement if you miss a separately booked train. Consider luggage, mobility, crowding and the cost of a missed connection. Recheck live status before making the transfer. The current calculator compares the remaining gap with a planning threshold of 90 minutes at the same station or 180 minutes when changing stations. These are RailQ heuristics, not railway minimum connection rules.
Official references
Examples are illustrative. If you find an error, send the page address and a source for the correction. Corrections process
Connection Buffer Calculator: official verification
RailQ is an independent travel utility. Live results depend on provider availability, and the official railway record remains the final authority.