Children travelling by train alone

daska

Hmmm... From the viewpoint of someone who's kids were travelling unaccompanied from about 10 years old: We would put them on direct trains, but unlike in your situation, the older girl was (is still) an airhead, the younger brother was the sensible one and the journey was half the distance, on a quieter line, between much smaller stations. Exeter to Waterloo is a long journey and they'd be arriving at a major terminus, there is huge scope for something to go awry. I grew up in London and travelled across the city every day for school and work so I have a good idea what the pitfalls are and on balance, personally, I'd say "no way". DSD who is pushing 17 got a lecture on personal safety when she travelled up to meet a family member a few weeks ago - and to be honest she's so dizzy that if we could have sent someone with her we would have - which would have been great because she managed to get lost! Without leaving the station! But DS1 was travelling the length of the country, unaccompanied, including the tube, at 14 without us worrying at all. (It's not a gender thing, he's logical and sensible and can read a map and she isn't.)

I would consider putting them on a coach but unfortunately, at least on National Express, all children under the age of 14 have to be accompanied by an adult of 16 or over.

Edited to add: with a family railcard, if you travel with them and visit friends, you might find that the price is cheaper than you imagine. Book as early as possible for the best fares (up to 12 weeks ahead usually).

AllyS

BugglyB wrote: »

If they are travelling at weekends it is sometimes no more expensive to go on 1st class which would be safer for them I think. I think they would be ok if they are sensible.

More important than other people may be how your 10 year old would behave, would he be silly or unsafe? You can't really put your 13 year old 'in charge' of him as its not fair on her.

When I used to do the journey, I often ended up in 1st class cause it was cheaper.

I wouldn't expect DD to be 'in charge' of him as I can't see there is much danger for DS, only from another grown up maybe?? I will pop them on the train and Dad will take them back off again. DS won't run around the train or anything silly like that, he will behave himself. When I said he was silly I meant he doesn't always consider dangerous things around him and what could happen if he isn't totally careful, like not checking a road properly before crossing. Once they are on the train, he will sit and be sensible then.

AllyS

daska wrote: »

Hmmm... From the viewpoint of someone who's kids were travelling unaccompanied from about 10 years old: We would put them on direct trains, but unlike in your situation, the older girl was (is still) an airhead, the younger brother was the sensible one and the journey was half the distance, on a quieter line, between much smaller stations. Exeter to Waterloo is a long journey and they'd be arriving at a major terminus, there is huge scope for something to go awry. I grew up in London and travelled across the city every day for school and work so I have a good idea what the pitfalls are and on balance, personally, I'd say "no way". DSD who is pushing 17 got a lecture on personal safety when she travelled up to meet a family member a few weeks ago - and to be honest she's so dizzy that if we could have sent someone with her we would have - which would have been great because she managed to get lost! Without leaving the station! But DS1 was travelling the length of the country, unaccompanied, including the tube, at 14 without us worrying at all. (It's not a gender thing, he's logical and sensible and can read a map and she isn't.)

I would consider putting them on a coach but unfortunately, at least on National Express, all children under the age of 14 have to be accompanied by an adult of 16 or over.

Edited to add: with a family railcard, if you travel with them and visit friends, you might find that the price is cheaper than you imagine. Book as early as possible for the best fares (up to 12 weeks ahead usually).

Bless her, she sounds a lot like me!! I get lost everywhere I go. I never told my mum cause she is a worrier, I have got lost on the tubes many a time! I learnt to ask people directions a lot :rotfl:

We are more North than Exeter, nearer the Somerset border, but I do agree it is still a very long train journey. Thanks x

Itismehonest

Check the Assisted Travel section for SW trains.

Most Train Companies will not allow any child under the age of 12 to travel without an adult aged 16 or over.
If Train Company staff believe that a child under that age is travelling alone, the British Transport Police will be called for assistance.

AllyS

Itismehonest wrote: »

Check the Assisted Travel section for SW trains. Most Train Companies will not allow any child under the age of 12 to travel without an adult aged 16 or over. If Train Company staff believe that a child under that age is travelling alone, the British Transport Police will be called for assistance.

Ah ok, thanks

duchy

kimmi_b wrote: »

I don't think I would let them, no.

I occasaionally travel to London for work and at 36 years old sometimes feel uncomfortable on the journey. It can be pretty daunting when the train gets crowded, you have strangers pressing in around you if having to stand, I worry about all the bags I am carrying etc. I'd also consider that children of that age may want to take entertainment to pass the time - do they have iPhones, smartphones, iPods etc? They may be more vulnerable to theft.

You would also have to consider how you would handle changes to the schedule e.g. train needs to divert and the children might need to change trains at another station.

!

Really ?

I would take the opposite view.
As it's an advanced ticket then seat reservations would be included-it's a direct journey no changes and the OP's DD has travelled by train before.

I would make sure they had a packed lunch with them to minimize wandering on the train (loo trips only) and would go through the "what if" scenarios drill with them in advance -and possibly text them a couple of times enroute. I wouldn't go for first class as standard class has more people around which I regard as safer and I'd go for a non peak time train to try and avoid the worst of the Friday weekenders crowdedness (West Country to London is still busy on a Friday -with locals escaping to London and beyond ) Arrival platforms are well marked at Waterloo -not sure there are platform tickets anymore but if barrier staff won't play ball their Dad could just buy a ticket to say Vauxhall (£2 or less) to get through the barrier. As they will have seat reservations he'll know which carriage they will be getting out from.

My son did it at a very young 12/13 (he has AS) and didn't even bother telling me there was a problem enroute when they got herded off the train and onto a bus for part of the journey-didn't think it was worth a text LOL

I was a bit twitchy the first couple of times -and made sure he or my ex texted as soon as he had met him but it was a lot easier for everyone and soon became routine. I think it helped my son grow up a bit too.

I wouldn't worry too much about Daska's daughter's experience-I seem to remember she got lost on the bus in her home town too .......so she's just dizzy

BitterAndTwisted

My sister and I travelled from London to North Wales and then back again after the holidays unaccompanied when we were 8 and 9 years old. That was back in the days when there were guards on the train who were asked to keep a friendly eye on us. Which they often did. To my mind, the main risk is getting off at Waterloo and not being able to find their father but Plan Bs can be put in place for that eventuality.

Only you know how sensible your children are and whether they can be trusted to travel safely on their own. I think all this "stranger danger" hysteria around nowadays is alarmist and inaccurate. A lot of children are in danger of being wrapped in cotton-wool without any opportunities to learn independence or other ways to boost their confidence in the big, wide world.

Presumably they would have a mobile phone between them so you can keep in touch with them on an hourly basis if you need to.

Spendless

This is the link from British Transport Police. Scroll down for their advice on unaccompanied children. Whether inidividual train companies have their own rules I've no idea, you'd have to check.

http://www.btp.police.uk/passengers/advice_and_information/travel_wise.aspx

daska

AllyS wrote: »

Bless her, she sounds a lot like me!! I get lost everywhere I go. I never told my mum cause she is a worrier, I have got lost on the tubes many a time! I learnt to ask people directions a lot :rotfl:

We are more North than Exeter, nearer the Somerset border, but I do agree it is still a very long train journey. Thanks x

Getting lost on the tube is one thing, I was born and grew up in London and caught the tube to school from the age of 9 and still managed to get lost a couple of times on the metropolitan line.

The conversation with DSD went along the lines of "I'm lost", "OK, are you still in the station?", "I don't think so", "OK, can you see any shops or a road name?", "There's a WHSmith", "Go in there and ask for the street name of where you are", "Erm... she says I'm in xxx station". She had actually been stood on the concourse within sight of the platform barriers - but didn't think she was still in the station! She's been travelling on mainline trains on a very frequent basis (every couple of weeks minimum) since she was a baby.

Duchy's quite right, yes she did get lost on the bus as well! I said she was dizzy LOL. My point was really to demonstrate that age is not really the relevant consideration. When it comes down to it, you're the only one here who knows your children. It has to be your call.

Lunar_Eclipse

Yes, I would. Definitely. It's a direct journey of about 3 hours with a parent available at both ends. The children being scared and anxious would be another matter entirely, but in this instance I'd just get on with it.

Ensure they have a mobile phone and everything they might need to keep them entertained on the journey from books and mags, to snacks and a drink.

As well as practical and potentially money saving, it's also very good for their personal development.