Will I get a seat on a train on Friday

[theotherfossilsister]

Thirty one weeks with a high risk pregnancy. Currently some trains running Friday but I don't think there are seat reservations. Will I get a seat? Not essential travel just last chance to see a friend for a long time. I thought I shouldn't go but spoke to midwifes at my appointment today and they said go, it'll do you good.

If you pick an off peak time and look obviously pregnant I’m sure someone will give up their seat for you. I’d try to make sure you were one of the first people onto the train to maximise the chances of getting near the seats because I think that’s the main risk, if you only get as far as the door vestibule then no one’s going to see you to offer a seat. If the train is that busy and it has first class I’d go in there, I’ve seen staff tell pregnant women to do so on crowded trains before (but speak to a member of staff first if possible).

Thank you, part of me feels bad needing a seat and thinks I just shouldn't go

I'm afraid I wouldn't

with cancellations you could end up waiting around etc

I wouldn't Friday will still be a mess. Why can't friend come to you?

Friend hates to travel. I'm leaning towards not going then. I feel nervous being away from the hospital too.

There are a few hundred seats on a train and most of them are occupied by people who are perfectly able to stand. Is it a long journey?

Yeah, Edinburgh to Liverpool. I feel entitled needing one daft as that sounds

Oh wow
I would avoid long journeys this week unless absolutely essential and that is really long.

I might have got carried away because I was on daily ctgs and it was amazing that now they're not daily. It's probably last chance to see friend though

When I was 38 weeks pregnant, I got a train and the carriage I had booked a seat in was closed as the doors had broken. So I spoke to the conductor, who was lovely and took me into first class and found me a seat there

Sorry, but what kind of friend lets a heavily pregnant woman make such a long train journey in summer, in the midst of severe rail disruption? Even if they don't like travelling that is not reasonable.

I was just about to ask exactly this.

Honestly they sound very self centred, why does their dislike of travel trump you being heavily pregnant. I wouldn't even make an acquaintance do this journey let alone someone who was supposed to be my friend.

I wouldn’t be going anywhere near a train this week if I didn’t have to, pregnant or not. As a pp said you could easily end up having to hang around stations for ages if trains get cancelled. I would hope you would be offered a seat but if you’re not it would be really uncomfortable and even with a seat the train might be too busy to get to the loo easily.

Friend has health issues and not annoyed with them, or with RMT. Just trying to work out whether I can snatch this weekend's freedom. I was so elated today as I only have three ctgs a week now.

The reason why you need to travel is because your friend hates travelling while you are heavily pregnant? Can't you meet half way or something at least?
Is the friend worth seeing now?

I probably would actually go tbh, it sounds like it might be a nice little break. And don’t be afraid to ask someone if you could sit, or find a friendly looking member of staff to assist in finding a seat.

Friend is def worth seeing. DP is going too so I'd be travelling with him but he's happy standing. I was told to go away and have a good time and just take blue notes, but I am scared of being away from the hospital although things were lots better today.

I don't think travelling a fairly long distance when you're having a high risk pregnancy and it's the middle of a train strike is a sensible idea. You may not be able to get on a train, let alone get a seat.

I thought from your initial post that your friend must be dying when you wrote it's your last chance to see them. But health issues and a dislike of travel is not worth putting your pregnancy at risk for.

Ah sorry no,I phrased that wrong. Last chance to see them for a long while. If they were dieing I'd get there whatever was happening.

My experience of being pregnant on an overcrowded train is that the guard will find you a seat, usually in first class as the carriages are never full there.

I'd like to go as it's been a horrible few weeks and today was such a relief but so much to think about.

I might ask a conductor.