Children travelling by train alone

Mad-Frog

I would let them go if they are used to London and the underground a straight forward trip to Waterloo with no changes would be a doddle

The only age restriction is children under five have to be accompanied as they go free so no worries there about ten year old, although I am not suggesting people put five year olds on a train alone

Guards did not look after children people asked them to keep an eye on which they did as would guards today if asked nicely, it would be the Train company which say officially no but I bet any guard would keep an eye on a child travelling alone

Don't go first class it would be expensive, there is nothing wrong with standard class

There would be two things that could go wrong the train breaks down and they have to get off and catch another or the line gets blocked and they have to catch a bus from point A to point B. If they can cope with either of those then they will be fine

Oh and make sure they don't both have headphones on so can listen to announcements

Most trouble on trains are caused by late night drinkers and football fans I doubt the OP would send them late at night and most football matches tend to be mid week and Saturday so doubt there would be any problem

duchy

Person_one wrote: »

I've been on trains where fights have broken out, where the police had to be called to meet the train at the next station, where teenagers were deliberately blocking the toilet and intimidating people who tried to use it, where people with obvious mental health problems were talking aggressively to random people and where sexual harassers have tried to grope me.

.

This is the kind of scaremongering and creating an enviroment of fear that was described earlier.
All of these occurances are rare -especially when travelling on a long distance service (as there are staff on board at all times -unlike commuter services which are often driver only unless a ticket checker gets on) and taking care to pick your train time (eg not late at night or at a time football supporters would be travelling -simple commonsense when selecting a journey time for children-or anyone else for that matter) but most importantly can happen anywhere not exclusively to trains-the bus, the local high street etc. Probably the biggest difference with a train is that people can and do protect the vunerable in these situations and would look out for kids travelling alone in a way they wouldn't perhaps in a local shopping centre.
Remember the "Racist on the tram" woman in Croydon a few months back -and the way the other commuters rallied around the young man who she was upsetting. Regular travellers see the train as a part of their territory and do protect others. It's the once a year travellers who cower and look the other way and "don't want to get involved".
Children once they are going anywhere alone need to be armed with stratagies for dealing with situations like those but most kids will never need to use them - It has nothing to do with going on a train journey-Any child out unaccompanied anywhere should be taught what to do beforehand. Just the child knowing what to do gives them a confidence -it the cowerers and those who look unconfident who are at most risk as their body language makes them stand out as potential targets.

duchy

iwannabeonthebeach wrote: »

What time would they be travelling? I get the exeter to waterloo train every day 430 from central. Fridays it is always packed, today people were standing. Just something to consider if they would be travelling at peak time

Agreed
I'd avoid late afternoon trains especially on a Friday-ideal would be a late morning train -and eat a packed lunch on the train to help fill the time. (Actually as they'd be travelling in school holiday times I'd try and avoid Fridays altogether if possible)

I must admit I would consider driving them to Bristol where the trains are faster and seats can be reserved in advance if Fridays were unavoidable. Whenever I've travelled on that line the train staff have been very much in evidence the whole journey too -advising passengers and generally chatting so I'd feel very confident they'd keep an eye on kids if asked. The Exeter line's lack of seat reservations might concern me on a Friday.

AllyS

Hi all

Still waiting for a response from SW trains.

I have thought about it and spoken to OH, would have spoken to ex but he was in a right grump yesterday, not sure why :rotfl:

and we are going to wait at least another year, although I do think they would be ok, I just think DS might cope with the what if's a bit better in a year.

Thanks for all the comments and advice, lots of things I would have never of thought of, also I really didn't realise that the train would be so busy on a Friday afternoon, when they would be travelling. I might ask when they do start going by train if they could leave school a little earlier (only once a month) and get a train around 3pm, this means they will arrive in London earlier too.

I did think of not telling them I was on the train and watching from a distant and I think I will def do this.

I am going up in August, so I am going to get the train up and bring them back on the train, and will do this a few times over the next year so it is familiar to them.

Thanks again everyone

P.s. forgot to say not really worth travelling from Bristol as where we meet is easier to get too than Bristol, thanks tho x

duchy

Sounds like a railcard is going to be a good investment !

Friday afternoons are always insane on trains both in and out of London -it's a pity it's a no seat reservation journey. Would your ex have any flexibility with days if school training days fall on a Friday or a Monday some months ?

AllyS

duchy wrote: »

Sounds like a railcard is going to be a good investment !

Friday afternoons are always insane on trains both in and out of London -it's a pity it's a no seat reservation journey. Would your ex have any flexibility with days if school training days fall on a Friday or a Monday some months ?

Yes he works shift work, so often has a lot of flexibility if it his rota'd day off.

The only problem is that the training days with both schools never fall on the same days. The secondary school covers many towns in the area, so I guess they think they can't please everyone so will just plan their own days :rotfl:

DD picks up every bug going bless her and although loves school tends to end up having 1 or 2 days off a term, so taking her out for the day is not really an option. DS is never ill (touch wood), hates school, could probably miss an odd day if it cropped up that DD had a training day and DS didn't, but would rather save any days in case we have to travel up in an emergency. On the trial runs I will make sure that we do a Fri afternoon so I can analyse things for myself.

Fingers crossed that route starts offering reserve seats in the next year

iwannabeonthebeach

there hasn't been reserved seating on the 4 years I've been commuting on it so not sure that will happen.
I think waiting a year is a good idea. I still get nervous now travelling alone sometimes and I'm 25!

Humphrey10

iwannabeonthebeach wrote: »

I still get nervous now travelling alone sometimes and I'm 25!

Yet another post showing how important it is to get children used to public transport at a young age.

loulou123

I travel up to London a lot on trains, and 99% of the time its fine, but last year I planned to catch the 6.30pm train home from London, it was delayed until after 10pm (no trains running at all, or even a replacement bus!) when it eventually left London it got about half way back and the train broke down, I then ended up sitting on a freezing cold platform for another hour, (not even a main station, so no proper security, dimly lit etc) and eventually got home at about 1.30am! - over 5 hours later then intended.

I travel on trains a lot, and even I was confused by lack of info from station/train staff, and really didn't think I was going to get home.

Events like this are very rare, but do happen. So I think you need to be sure that your children would cope ok in this kind of situation and not panic etc.

Edwardia

I was allowed to travel to and from local town on a bus with younger brother from age 10 or 11 we knew route from car journeys. At 13 I changed schools and started doing 100 miles a week by train to/from school at which point parents told me I could start travelling by train by myself and I was allowed to do day trips to France as I speak fairly fluent French. I don't think unaccompanied 13yr olds are allowed now and not even sure ferries take foot passengers these days.

I think it depends on the child and the regulations. I wouldn't recommend sending a nervous child alone, I would suggest mobile phone for emergencies, checking National Rail website engineering works before they leave, listening out to travel news while they are en route so if you hear of likely probs you can text.

If it was my child I'd feel a bit better if s/he was on a coach.