Take an intercity train with pram etc ?

thepeacock

Hi All,

Haven't been on an intercity train for ages... years... but how I remember them is quite narrow corridors and a bit of a step up to get on from the platform.

Going to be travelling in July from Gatwick to Wales with 2 adults, 1 x 3 year old and 1 x 1 year old, and luggage :question:

and trying to weigh up hiring a car or letting the train take the strain...

Will the trains be full in July ?
Will they break down if it's too hot ?!
Is it a nightmare with all that luggage and kids on a train / can we even get a pram in there ?

Thing is it seems like if I book tickets online I will be booking only 2 seats and it's just luck if there are more seats ? Otherwise I have to book 4 seats (adults) ??

Any Tips appreciated !

Arfa__

Used to use trains all the time with kids. Its a total pain in !!!. Best plan, is leg it like mad to the disabled section, there maybe room for buggy to be left upright, which is dead handy if little 'un needs to sleep. Of course do vacate, is someone disabled does need to sit down.

Otherwise, budget on the buggy needing folding and dumped in vestibules at each end of coach. Budget on loads of people queuing up behind you tut'ing and moaning whilst you do this. If busy, there may not be room for the buggy, so you may have to hunt around for another luggage area to dump it. When approaching the destination, if the train isn't terminating, get the buggy unfolded well in advance, everyone crowds the corridors in preparation to jumping off, giving you no room to move.
Ignore any seat reservations, (unless its super busy). They'll only be room for you and not the kids. possibly check out quiet coaches, which tend to be mostly unreserved and at the far end of the train where they fill up last. So yes, if you want to reserve spare seats for kids, you'll need to by tickets for them! We used to just run the length of the train looking for an unreserved table. If you're not at a table, you'll be split into pairs and have little room for the kids to play.
To be honest, it maybe worth paying the premium to go 1st class, as you'll have loads of space and you're only paying the premium for the 2 adults tickets. Plus the staff will bring refreshments for the kids. When my wife took the kids up North on her own, she always went first class for this reason.
Double changing times, so you can negotiate lifts etc. e.g. at Birmingham station to change platforms, you have to get lift to basement, walk along massive underground corridor then get a lift back up (in this instance change at Wolvehampton, much easier, only 6 platforms).
Also many Welsh trains (Central/Arriva in North Wales) tend to be tiny two coach affairs that are always cramped. The big intercity Virgin ones are Ok though.
Take lots of toys, kids will get bored. You will end up walking them the length of the train numerous times, keep the occupied, all to many funny looks or smiles - depending on how cute looking the kids are by this point. Virgin trains do give out goody bags at the shops, which are pretty good.
Also look out for quieter alternative routes. We often avoided the busy Virgin Euston to Wolves/Brum trains and went for the really quiet one from Marylebone to Shrewsbury. Was direct, but took longer! But always nice and quiet with loads of room.

Dunno if I've put you off yet. To be honest, on a quiet train its quite nice, the kids like it and you can plays games with them. They really enjoy the hours of attention, which they wouldn't have got if you were driving. However on a busy or delayed trains its the worst tornado of stress ever.

johnnyroper

from gatwick to wales i would say you will be on first great western turbo unit to reading then change for a hst to south wales from there it depends where you are finishing your journey.

you will get help putting buggy on the train but will need to fold it and put on luggage rack unless you go in disabled area?
refreshment wise nothing gatwick to reading but south wales high speed service will be buffet car which could prove difficult to reach with buggey,i would suggest taking drinks with you.

thepeacock

Thanks guys...

Still undecided...Just have this nightmare idea of it being hot and busy in July?! (will be middayish + school holidays).

johnnyroper

thepeacock wrote: »

Thanks guys...

Still undecided...Just have this nightmare idea of it being hot and busy in July?! (will be middayish + school holidays).

the chances of being hot are slim,the turbo unit has opening windows and the hst fleet tends to have functioning air con these days.
as for being busy you are right it could well be during school holidays i would hazard a guess that on main journey reading to south wales the train manager/platform staff will probably put you in the first class carriage if you have bags and buggy,they are normally pretty good when it comes to things like that seen it happen a few times.

Arfa__

One last tip, if the loos are filthy (which is pretty common) or the changing table is hanging off the wall precariously and the sprogs need a nappy change, just nip into first class. It'll be empty, there'll be loads of big clean tables with plenty of room to change the little 'un.

;-)

dzug1

johnnyroper wrote: »

refreshment wise nothing gatwick to reading .

At least some of them have a trolley that comes round - or at least skulks at one end of the train.

C_Mababejive

You need to prebook on line for the best deals.

Train travel has moved on somewhat.


Dont bank on abandoning buggies all over the place. They need to be folded and stowed.

Other than that,it should be fine.

Mankysteve

Where about in Wales? its a big place with a few unconnected lines

thepeacock

Mankysteve wrote: »

Where about in Wales? its a big place with a few unconnected lines

That's the rest of the jigsaw . . .

Going to Brecon so need to take a National Express from Cardiff.