You have probably missed a last train at least once. Everyone in Delhi has. It is a rite of passage that costs you either a cab fare or a very long auto negotiation at 11 PM outside a metro station with gates that are not budging.
The thing is, the information to avoid that moment exists. DMRC publishes timings. The catch is that they are listed from terminal stations, they change after Phase IV openings, they are different on Sundays, and the Airport Express plays by entirely separate rules that nobody tells you about until you are standing at a token machine confused about why your smart card discount is not applying.
This page covers all 10 lines, weekday and Sunday schedules, the airport routes with the one detail that matters, and six timing mistakes that real Delhi commuters make regularly. Updated April 2026 to include Phase IV openings from January and March 2026.
"Delhi Metro runs 365 days a year, serves over 5 million people daily, and operates across 10 lines covering 374 km. Knowing when it starts and when it stops is not trivial information. It is the difference between getting home and not getting home."
Quick Reference: First and Last Trains by Line
Weekday timings from terminal stations. Sunday first trains start approximately 30-45 minutes later.
Timings are from terminal stations. Mid-route stations are served 10-40 minutes later depending on position along the line.
Line by Line: The Full Picture
Terminal timings, Sunday changes, frequency, and what nobody tells you about each corridor.
Sunday and Holiday Schedules
The part of the timetable most people ignore until it matters.
Delhi Metro runs every day, including Sundays and public holidays. What changes is when it starts, when it ends, and how often trains come. Assuming weekday timings apply on a Sunday is the single most common timing mistake on this network.
Most lines start their first trains 30 to 45 minutes later from terminals on Sundays. A line that starts at 5:30 AM on weekdays typically starts at 6:05 to 6:15 AM on Sundays. The Airport Express is the exception and starts closer to its weekday time due to flight schedules.
The service window compresses from both ends on Sundays. If you rely on a 11:00 PM last train on weekdays, expect the Sunday equivalent to be around 10:40 to 10:50 PM. The Green Line and Grey Line, which already close earlier on weekdays, close earlier still on Sundays.
Peak-hour frequency does not apply on Sundays. Lines that run every 2-3 minutes on a weekday morning run every 6-8 minutes on a Sunday morning. During Sunday afternoons, this is often 7-10 minutes. Plan for longer waits at every platform.
On Holi, DMRC has historically started services from 2:30 PM instead of the morning. On Republic Day and Independence Day, frequency increases in the morning near Rajpath and the Red Fort corridor. These are announced on DMRC's official social media 1-2 days before the holiday. The standard Sunday schedule is not automatically a holiday schedule.
The Magenta Line sections opened in 2026 and the Pink Line ring completion follow the same Sunday timing pattern as older sections on their respective lines. There is no separate Sunday schedule for Phase IV stations. They start and end at the same time as the rest of the line they belong to.
Airport Express Timings: The One Line That Plays by Different Rules
Earlier starts, later finishes, fixed fare, and no smart card discount. Know all four before you travel.
The Airport Express is operationally separate from the rest of DMRC. It runs faster, stops less, charges a flat fare, and starts earlier than any other line. If you have a morning flight, this line is your answer. If you do not know the four things below, it will surprise you at the worst possible moment.
Off-Peak Hours: When the Discount Kicks In
Travel at the right time and your smart card gives you more than the standard 10%.
DMRC smart cards give a flat 10% discount on all journeys across the network (except Airport Express). What fewer people know is there is an additional discount layer for off-peak travel. If your schedule allows any flexibility, these windows save money on every single trip.
6 Timing Mistakes Delhi Commuters Make (And How to Not Make Them)
These are based on what actually happens on this network, not hypotheticals.
Missing the last train because you timed it from the origin, not from your station
First and last train timings are listed from terminal stations. If you are boarding mid-route, the train passes your station 10 to 40 minutes after it leaves the terminal depending on how far along the line you are. A train that leaves Samaypur Badli at 11:05 PM reaches Rajiv Chowk around 11:22 PM and AIIMS around 11:30 PM. Use those mid-route times to calculate your departure window, not the terminal time.
Not checking the Blue Line destination board and ending up in Noida when you wanted Vaishali
This happens to people who have been using the Blue Line for years. After Yamuna Bank, alternate trains go to Noida Electronic City and Vaishali. The platform looks identical. The only difference is the destination board on the screen and on the front of the train. Check it every time. You will not waste 25 minutes in transit because you were certain the next train was yours.
Arriving at the station just as the metro closes and expecting a few extra minutes
DMRC closes stations on time. If the last train has departed, the entry gates lock. There is no grace period, no one to persuade, and no informal exception. At major stations during events or late-night festivities, DMRC sometimes adds special services. These are announced on the official Twitter handle. Outside of those announcements, the schedule is final.
Assuming Sunday timings are the same as weekday timings
Sunday first trains from most terminals start 30 to 45 minutes later than weekday first trains. If you have an early Sunday appointment or a morning flight, double-check the Sunday first train time for your starting station. Several people have missed early flights by assuming the 5:30 AM weekday start applies on Sundays. It does not.
Using the Airport Express smart card discount and being surprised at the full fare
Every other DMRC line gives you a 10% discount when you tap in with a smart card. The Airport Express does not. It charges the full Rs 60 flat fare regardless of payment method. This is not a bug. It is policy. Know it before you board so you are not standing at the exit gate fumbling for exact change.
Trusting third-party timing apps without a cross-check
Several timing apps show cached or outdated schedules, especially after Phase IV changes in 2026. The Magenta Line new sections and the Pink Line ring completion changed a number of station sequences and timings. If your app was last updated in 2024 or early 2025, it may be showing pre-Phase IV data. Always cross-check against the DMRC official site or a source that explicitly states an April 2026 or later update.
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Timing data sourced from DMRC official communications and delhimetrorail.com. Phase IV schedule updates verified April 2026. Delhi Metro Info is an independent platform, not affiliated with DMRC or the Government of India.