Children travelling by train alone

Seanymph

whether you expect it or not though that's the reality isn't it - the older sibling will guide/reprimand/feel responsible for the younger.

She can't really go swanning off and leave him if he refuses to behave himself can she?

DuckEggGingham

I agree with those that feel it would be ok for the 13 year old to do it but I think its wrong that the 13 year old will be responsible for the 10 year old on the journey.

DuckEggGingham

AllyS wrote: »

I have contacted southwest to ask about legal age.

I don't expect my DD to be in charge of DS I never said this, just that they will travel together.

But its not as if she will do her own thing. If your son is naughty, hurt, upset or even just wants a drink, she cant just ignore and do her own thing. Not that I would expect any sibling to ignore another and I am sure your daughter is a lovely sister and would help him wherever they were be it home or on a train but in this case she has NO choice. She will be responsible for him.

ticktack_2

It's not worth the risk.

duchy

This thread is getting more bizarre post by post.

Some of the objections are just plain odd.

No-one is going to try to bully a couple of kids on a long distance train into giving up their seats (on a short commuter line maybe)and if they did most reasonable adults would intervene .

As for PuppyPant's "terrible experience" I'm sorry but a ten minute walk through a well lit area following everyone else on the train is NOT a terrible experience.

Seventeen year olds who don't know if they are on a station concourse or not

I don't know whether to laugh or cry !!!!

OP if your kids are normal, sensible kids who you trust (and I don't think you'd even be considering this if they weren't) who would be thrilled to be doing something of an adventure and be thrilled to be thought sensible enough by you and their Dad to do it -then really you have little to be worried about. We raise our kids to be open to everything life has to offer -not to be scared to try new things.

Chakani

I'm usually to be found bleating on about how children are overprotected and should be allowed to experience things, but I have to say, I think 9 is too young. My initial thought was that 12 would be the age I would allow it.

Armchair23

I can't imagine how this minimum unaccompanied age can work. All over the country kids of 11 travel to secondary school by train I can't imagine parents go with them every journey.
The only way to become confident and capable of using public transport is to practice. And at some point that first journey without an adult will happen.
I'd agree that doing the journey with them at least once is a good idea, that way you'll have seen what might be a worry for either you or your children.
Somehow for me 11 and the start of secondary school is when I think kids should be gently helped to become capable adults. It strikes me that's what you're doing so good luck I hope it all goes smoothly !

Tish_P

Everyone on about the risk - the risk of what?

Abduction? That's extremely rare, and no more likely to occur on a train than elsewhere. Probably less, as there are bound to be witnesses.

Getting on the wrong train or off at the wrong station or the train is cancelled - very unlikely if one parent puts them on the train and they get off at the terminus, but even if it happened, so what? A minimally competent 13 year old could go to a ticket office or help point and ask when the next train to Waterloo is and from what platform, and get on that one instead, and phone Dad to say they'll be half an hour late.

The kids getting separated in a busy crowd - more likely, but you couldn't guarantee it wouldn't happen even with a parent there. They can phone each other if that happens, or in an emergency contact station staff.

Unless the kids are the kind who would push each other onto the tracks, the worst thing that's at all likely to happen to them is a few minutes of confusion and anxiety, which might not be pleasant but won't hurt them and in the long term will teach them to deal with the unexpected.

AllyS

Thanks all for replies.

My son wouldn't misbehave, he knows expectations on public transport and in public in general. She wouldn't need to discipline him. I wouldn't expect her to leave him just because she loves her brother and will look out for him, same if he gets upset too. I wouldn't expect my ds to leave his sister either and would like to think he would comfort her if she was upset too.

Sorry the thread seems to have caused arguments that was never my intention. Perhaps its best left now.

Thanks all the advice, it has helped x

AllyS

Because we have travelled a lot in London they know to either have a lost point or to stay where they are and to call someone on the phone. Travelling when busy is not new to them

We live rurally and some 11 years travel an hour everyday to go to the grammar school. Perhaps 10 is too young and I will think about it again next spring.

Thanks again x