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Original poster

Children having their own seat on a packed train.

885 replies

user1493559472 · 11/09/2025 09:59

I am on a packed train. A child who is about 3 years old is sat in their own seat and not on the parents lap, would you ask to sit down and the child sits on parents lap? People were standing.
Thank you

OP posts:
HelenaWaiting · 11/09/2025 21:57

Wherehasthecatgone · 11/09/2025 16:08

You may imagine that but parents want to reserve seat for their children on long journeys and they also get a discount on the adult fair with a railcard.

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You have introduced the qualification "long journeys". Beats me why people do that.

RoseAlone · 11/09/2025 21:42

Of course not. Children have a right to sit down too

TreadLight · 11/09/2025 21:20

When I’ve taken my young children on busy tube trains in London, someone pretty much always offers them their seat. And I appreciate it as it moves them away from the door so they can’t suddenly decide to get off at the wrong stop.

Wherehasthecatgone · 11/09/2025 21:13

It can be cheaper to buy children’s tickets than not with a railcard. And you then get seat reservations. I wouldn’t dream of taking a multi-hour trip with young children without seat reservations

Pokemum76 · 11/09/2025 21:11

My elderly mother has a free freedom pass. When the tube is busy I make her sit on my lap.

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 21:00

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:59

How many parents of children under five who don’t have to pay actually volunteer to? I’ll tell you - virtually none. I certainly didn’t and, frankly I don’t believe anyone who says they did.

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In order to get a seat reservation on a train you have to buy a ticket

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 11/09/2025 20:59

Depends on length of journey and seat layout too. I’d struggle to fit a child on my lap whilst next to another person. With bags etc and then try to reach toys, drinks, snacks etc to keep them entertained. For everyone’s sanity it’s better the child has space.

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:59

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:50

And there are lots of people who pay for their children’s tickets also who don’t live in London. But somehow the elderly person who has paid isn’t expected to give up their seat but the parent who has paid for the child has to give it up?

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How many parents of children under five who don’t have to pay actually volunteer to? I’ll tell you - virtually none. I certainly didn’t and, frankly I don’t believe anyone who says they did.

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:50

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:49

There are many many trains that aren’t in London. And even in London there are many, many elderly people who don’t live there and have to pay just like everyone else.

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And there are lots of people who pay for their children’s tickets also who don’t live in London. But somehow the elderly person who has paid isn’t expected to give up their seat but the parent who has paid for the child has to give it up?

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:49

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:46

on the tube and overground they don’t pay.

also my parents get free travel on buses anywhere in the country. Does that make a difference if it’s a bus?

Edited
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There are many many trains that aren’t in London. And even in London there are many, many elderly people who don’t live there and have to pay just like everyone else.

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:46

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:44

There are no free tickets on trains. An elderly person will have paid, albeit they might have got a 1/3 discount with their railcard.

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on the tube and overground they don’t pay.

also my parents get free travel on buses anywhere in the country. Does that make a difference if it’s a bus?

itsabeautifuldayjuly · 11/09/2025 20:46

With that logic, seats should go first to people with the most expensive tickets (anytime singles). then anytime return, then flexi season, etc….
By the time you’ve established the payment hierarchy on the train, you’ll be in scotland

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:44

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:34

So you would kick an elderly person with a free ticket off their seat? That’s harsh.

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There are no free tickets on trains. An elderly person will have paid, albeit they might have got a 1/3 discount with their railcard.

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:43

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:43

Because they’ve paid for them!

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So have many parents with small children as this thread has demonstrated! How do you know?

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:43

GleisZwei · 11/09/2025 20:35

Meanwhile lots of us see no reason why able bodied adults feel entitled to take seats from smaller and more vulnerable humans. 😐

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Because they’ve paid for them!

Original poster
user1493559472 · 11/09/2025 20:41

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:37

Should you have to prove that though? I’d be annoyed if I was challenged by another passenger about what ticket I had or had not purchased.

The OP clearly made a judgement that the person should have moved the child regardless. She didn’t consider whether or not the child’s parent had paid for it nor if she cared either way.

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It was on the overground in London. Children don't pay for their seat. When my children were little they would sit on my lap unless the train was not busy, same as on the bus.

OP posts:
BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:37

pottylolly · 11/09/2025 19:03

Well no. If you’ve paid for a seat it’s yours whether the child or the dog sits on it.

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Should you have to prove that though? I’d be annoyed if I was challenged by another passenger about what ticket I had or had not purchased.

The OP clearly made a judgement that the person should have moved the child regardless. She didn’t consider whether or not the child’s parent had paid for it nor if she cared either way.

GleisZwei · 11/09/2025 20:35

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:31

They should give it up because it hasn’t been paid for. If I’ve paid ££ for a ticket I see no reason why a child travelling free should have a seat while I stand.

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Meanwhile lots of us see no reason why able bodied adults feel entitled to take seats from smaller and more vulnerable humans. 😐

BananaPeels · 11/09/2025 20:34

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:31

They should give it up because it hasn’t been paid for. If I’ve paid ££ for a ticket I see no reason why a child travelling free should have a seat while I stand.

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So you would kick an elderly person with a free ticket off their seat? That’s harsh.

BIossomtoes · 11/09/2025 20:31

Movingonup313 · 11/09/2025 20:27

I dont know the child's circa or the parents circa. The child was there first. I dont care if travel is free for that age - i dont see why they should have to give up the seat. Id rather a child was sitting safely and I stood. Its a mission trying to keep a child on your knee - uncomfortable for both adult and child and if you are next to them you would want to stand anyway

They should give it up because it hasn’t been paid for. If I’ve paid ££ for a ticket I see no reason why a child travelling free should have a seat while I stand.

Bearbookagainandagain · 11/09/2025 20:28

Violinist64 · 11/09/2025 17:19

For goodness' sake. You do not reason or "try and persuade" a three-year-old to sit on your lap, you make it a fait accomplis. You say: "Olivia, you are going to sit on Mummy's lap now because this lady needs to sit down," while you are physically doing just that.

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Of course, perfect mum's with perfect kids. silly me! I didn't think about that!

Movingonup313 · 11/09/2025 20:27

I dont know the child's circa or the parents circa. The child was there first. I dont care if travel is free for that age - i dont see why they should have to give up the seat. Id rather a child was sitting safely and I stood. Its a mission trying to keep a child on your knee - uncomfortable for both adult and child and if you are next to them you would want to stand anyway

GleisZwei · 11/09/2025 20:24

Alliod40 · 11/09/2025 20:21

Yes I would..children under 5 go free so they can sit on a parents lap for this very reason..if a parent has paid for them which I doubt they have i would ask them to move ..the sense of entitlement is unreal

Incorrect.
Next

Alliod40 · 11/09/2025 20:21

Yes I would..children under 5 go free so they can sit on a parents lap for this very reason..if a parent has paid for them which I doubt they have i would ask them to move ..the sense of entitlement is unreal

Iocainepowder · 11/09/2025 20:05

I as an able-bodied adult would offer to give up my seat for a young child.

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