Final answer:
The problem is solved by setting up algebraic equations based on speed, distance, and time, with the total distance travelled by the train being 600 km.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves solving a travel-distance problem using algebraic equations. To determine the total distance travelled by the train, we need to set up equations based on the information provided about the train's speed and the delays caused by an accident. When the accident occurs 150 km into the journey, the train is delayed by 8 hours. If the accident had occurred 360 km further along the journey, the delay would have been 4 hours. These scenarios give us two equations with two variables.
Let the original speed of the train be V km/h and the total distance be D km. We can then express the time taken to cover distance before and after the accident using the reduced speed, which is 3/5V. By setting up and solving these equations, we can find the value of D. After solving the equations, we get the total distance travelled by the train to be 600 km.