not sure if this is a good idea ?

oops_a_daisy

My DD is going to start at a new boarding school in September. The school is near London and she will be able to come home ( Up North ) every 3 weeks. It would take me about 9 hours driving time to collect her on a Friday night and bring her home and then the same again on a Sunday night to return her, which I think would probably just about finish me off for the weekend and the folowing week. It has been suggested that I try to organise for her to come home on the train BUT I am unsure about her getting a train into London then a tube across to Kings X to then get the train up north she has never travelled on her own before and I really do not know how safe it is for a young girl to use the tube and trains on her own. Can anybody advise please sorry should have mentioned she is nearly 14 years old. Thanks.

trish06

hi
can you not get a school closer?
its not safe for your daughter to be travelling on her own

pinkshoes

Do you know anyone that can take her to Kings Cross? My 14 year old cousin travels on the train from York to Kings Cross, then I meet her there, take her shopping round London, then put her back on the train in the evening.

Maybe you could get her a taxi from the boarding school to Kings Cross, because the taxi rank is just outside, then she'll just have to walk in, look for the train on the huge board, then go to the correct platform.

Psykicpup

Are there likely to be other kids travelling to Kings Cross from the School? Its quite a busy station so I would not be surprised if there were.
You could catch the train down yourself the 1st few times to reassure yourself that she is 'safe' in the way she behaves etc.
Make sure she has a mobile & calls you at each stage of the journey not just if there is a problem too.
At 14 she probably feels quite old enough for this journey & to be honest she wont be taking any more risk than some smaller stations.
I have to admit tho I would want to see her settled in for a term or two, to judge how she 'feels' about being in London & the journey before I did a couple of 'test runs' with her.
I would like to add that I personally have always felt safe using the London transport system as there are so many people around so I would be more worried about my daughter on the journey FROM Kings Cross to Up North! where most of the travellers will have left......please dont let that add a whole new worry for you tho!

oops_a_daisy

thankyou for the replies. Unfortunately we can not look into another school as this is a specialist school. So I will ask the school if there is anybody else that travels up north that she could travel with which could be a possibility. Plus I will definately travel with her on the first few occasions to a) put my mind at rest, b) see if I am happy security wise and c) make sure she is happy with everything. She has her own mobile but we only go to London once a year so she is not familiar with trains & the tube system.

tigtag02

How about flying oops? Then a taxi to school

My DD (also 14) has been flying from Leeds & Bradford to Heathrow since she was 7. We have never paid more than £70 return which is less than it would cost in petrol and flying time is less than an hour!! She is quite the seasoned flyer now

Up to 12 they are classed as UM (Unaccompanied Minor's) but they still take care of and look out for them after that However, this is with British Midlands and I'm sure company policy may differ.

Just a thought - seems like lots of driving :eek:

oops_a_daisy

have looked into flights but it would still involve the train and tube trips as well and would work out a whole lot more expensive - good suggestion though

tigtag02

Oh well :(

Good luck oops with whichever way you decide

vaio

My DS went to school near Gatwick and travelled into London and on to the midlands by train from age 12. This was 10 years ago but he never had any problems (and this was in pre everyone has a mobile days)

paddy's_mum

Two weeks ago, I crossed by London taxi from Waterloo to Kings Cross. THe fare was £11 - not expensive in my view as I was feeling rather ill at the time and couldn't face the tube.

Perhaps your daughter could use a taxi rather than the underground. Above ground, she is at least visible and surrounded by people should trouble occur. She could be taught to take the taxi number and text it to you before getting in. London cabbies are generally great but being seen to take the number would surely stop anyone with dodgy ideas.

hardpressed

As someone else has said, ask the school if there is anyone else travelling in the same direction, even if only for part of the journey then maybe you could meet her part way untill she was sure of the journey. Also remember that train services are often disrupted on Sundays due to engineering works, so trains may be delayed or even cancelled and in the winter she will likely be travelling in the dark.