Train Journey By Herself?!

[thatblackpony]

Hi everyone.
So in the Christmas Half Term my step sister will be coming to stay with me for the weekend up in Edinburgh where I am currently studying at Uni.
Now, the problem.
She wants to come on Friday evening and leave early Monday morning so that she stays for two full days with me... The only problem is because I am in classes until 2pm on Friday and from 10am Monday morning I will not be able to drive her home/pick her up (She lives in Kent which is a 10 hour drive on a good day!!)
Her dad wants to put her on the train all the way up by herself. This would be fine if it was a single train line all the way but the journey involves getting on and off numerous trains as well as walking between stations:
Train to St Pancreas International
Walk from St P to Kings Cross
Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley (6 Hours!)

Would you let your 13 year old daughter do this unaccompanied?? I would offer to meet her at St P or Kings Cross but I really can't skip any lessons at the moment!

Thank you for your help

[Momzilla82]

St Pancras and Kings cross are next door to one another. Literally across one road- or she can use an underpass. Can you give her a mobile to get text updates on her progress.

[thatblackpony]

Okay change of plan...
Her dad will now take her to Kings Cross station and make sure she gets the right train to edinburgh etc. These train journeys, although long have reserved seats and plug sockets etc. so she will be safe and always be able to have a charged phone?

Does this make the situation better? Would you let your daughter do this?

[19lottie82]

No that sounds too much for a 13 year old. If it was a direct route, yes.

Can she not fly from a local airport to Edinburgh? Airlines will take kids of that age and get them on / off the plane, as long as there is someone dropping them off and picking them up.

[19lottie82]

Updated plan sounds fine.

[5OBalesofHay]

Sounds fine to me

[HRarehoundingme]

I used to do kings cross to York from age 11 pretty phones so yes.

[Northernlurker]

Sounds fine to me, escorted yo kings cross or not.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Kings cross to Waverley is 4.5 hours, not 6. If someone puts her on the train at KX then I'd think she'd be fine.

[Witchend]

My just 13yo would be capable of that.
She has the advantage that we do go to London, not frequently, but about twice a year. She would see it an amazing adventure!

[heymammy]

I did this journey every school holiday when I was 13-18. Coincidentally I also lived in Kent but my parents drove me into to Kings X where I got the train to Inverness.

Of course this was 20+ years ago but it was fairly straightforward, I was usually a bit nervous but it is well within the coping range for a 13 yr old I think.

Her dad can't take her in to London?

[ConvincingLiar]

New plan sounds fine. Old plan depends on her maturity/ability to problem solve.

[Kayakinggirl]

Sounds fine to me. I did that sort of journey all the time at that age.

[heymammy]

X-post, yes, new plan is perfectly fine

[thatblackpony]

Thank you everyone for your help!!

[chitofftheshovel]

I travelled from Glasgow to Poole when I was that age on my own. Changes were fine, everything was fine. I felt grown up and trusted. But it was 20 years ago, not sure how "different" things are now. Also depends if step-sister is comfortable with it.
On balance I can imagine allowing my now 9 year old dd doing it in a few years time but I know her best friends mum would never allow it, so it depends on the individual.