Unaccompanied child on a train journey..

cte1111

I don't think it's any different to a bus journey to be honest. I know the journey is a bit longer, but the 'danger' doesn't increase in line with the journey length. The main thing is that he needs to know what to do if something goes wrong. So if he missed his stop, the train breaks down, he is unhappy about how someone is behaving towards him, then will he know what to do? I would suggest to teach him to go and sit by a friendly looking lady, and ask for help in any of the situations abov. If he also has a mobile, then he call always call one of his parents or you for guidance if he has any worries.

If he wants to see his Dad, and this is the only way that it can be done, then I personally would permit it.

Mind you I went all the way from Manchester to Cornwall on a train by myself when I was 10, so I'm quite hardy about these things. I did not find it worrying, just a bit boring.

tanith

Thanks everyone for your valuable input and I must say I have been persuaded that its not an impossible mission for my grandson. My daughters concerns are more about his being focussed on the journey and not be distracted. He has big problems with getting home at a specific times even from school or contacting Mum to explain why he is late, he carries a mobile but chooses not to check in when asked.. He gets round the problem of Mum phoning his mobile by turning it off at convenient times (to himself) and then saying it didn't ring . He is being really difficult at the moment and school have concerns about his behaviour. So things aren't black and white..
The suggestion that either I or his Mum travel with him is a valid one and I did consider it myself but its not something I want to commit to on a fortnightly basis , its a journey of over 2hrs there and 2hrs back making a likely journey of 5hrs and of course someone doing the same journey again on Sunday evening.. my daughter has other children at home and as I just can't commit to this regularly.. its a dilemma as none of us want to keep him from his Dad.. maybe we could suggest that the fornightly visits stop for now and he has him for longer during school holidays thus cutting down on the journeys until he gets another job...

zimm143

Could he go a national express bus? My sister and I were handed to the staff on these and only released when our dad picked us up. They might even supervise a change of buses.

Otherwise I wouldn't worry - 12 is old enough for simple train journey. What train company is it? Some are better at looking out for people than others.

flutterbyuk25

Could you/your daughter offer to help his father with the cost of the train ticket for him too for a little while? That way your grandson will not be alone on the journey, and neither you/your daughter have to accompany him.

x

liney

I'd let him go - some of the children around here spend nearly that long on a bus getting to school of a morning.

As long he knows where he's getting off and Dad will definately be there to meet him can't see why there would be a problem.

coxy07

I would definately let him do it but only on the condition that in the weeks before him going he could show responsible behaviour with his school journeys and phone answering. No responsible behaviour = no visit to dad.

choccybuttons

Since you or your daughter are talking about taking him, why not pay for your grandsons ticket and let dad pay for his. It will be the same money if your or your daughter went with him.

MrsTinks

Radical idea... how about you/your daughter "spy" on him? ie let him do it on his own, but unknown to him one of you is actually on the train next carriage down? That way you can see how he behaves and copes and decide if it can be repeated in the future without one of you with him

Spendless

Is it a straight thru train without stops? If it is,can he be put on the train at one end and picked up the other and is contactable via a mobile phone during the journey.

Gingham_Ribbon

It's difficult if you think the child may miss his stop or get off too soon. Ringing him near the time the train is due to arrive at his stop may help, as will ensuring he's not on one where he'd need to change.

Otherwise, it's not late, the train will be busy at that time and he's being put on the train and met off it, so I'd have no serious concerns to be honest.

If dad is reliable then I'd probably say yes. Far rather that than him not see his dad until the holidays.

However, without knowing the child, I wouldn't be sure. Some children really are able to deal with this with no problem at that age and others simply aren't.