Thoughts on age of child traveling alone on train from London to Preston

[Shitfather]

DS is 11 and I’d like him to start traveling to see family. We have taken the route together many times, but I need a few days to myself to sort out some legal shit. He is very sensible, will have his phone, and charger. I will put him on the direct Avanti train nearest to the conductor’s cabin. A family member will be at the platform to collect him. Any thoughts?

I agree that assuming there were no problems, his age is fine with a booking in the quiet carriage but I'd be worred about cancellations at that distance. It's a long way to drive to pick him up if he gets stranded halfway.

I wouldn't let my 12 yo do this. I'd be concerned about trains being cancelled or having to sit on a train for a couple of hours at a station (this has happened to me) .

I think he is too young. - 13 or over sounds better

I se t my boys at 13 and 11 from Euston to Stockport and they were fine - but that was 3 years ago. Last time DS did it alone it was a nightmare, train was really delayed, they only waited for / minutes at Stockport and didn’t announce it and then there were delayed back from Manchester.
he was okay, but he was 16 by then.
i wouldn’t send an 11 year old at the moment.

My DD's travelled on the intercity from 12&10. I always booked nearest the buffet

If you do book it then sit him near the shop/cafe rather than the train manager. The train manager and ticket inspector will be up and down the train rather than in one place. Whereas there is generally always someone in the shop.

I travelled York to Edinburgh from being 11. I loved it!

Absolutely hell no OP. I unfortunately have to do this journey on an all too frequent basis for work. At the moment it's an absolute nightmare. Like others have said Avanti are cancelling trains on a daily basis. When you've got 3 trains full of people stuffed onto one getting a seat is nothing short of miraculous. Expecting the train manager to look after your Ds ain't gonna happen if they physically can't get up and down the train because its rammed full. The amount of trains I have been on that get cancelled at Crewe/Preston just beggars belief.

And that's without the other people on the train who can be absolute assholes at times. I've seen beered up football fans making derogatory remarks about everyone on the train. 2 ladies fighting over a seat- proper fighting that is. A couple getting amorous thinking no-one can see them but they had forgotten about the reflection in the window. And lots and lots and lots nore besides. All of those examples are in the past 3 months.

Also, are you aware that if an unaccompanied minor is found on an avanti train without a very good reason (I.e. school travel) then Avanti routinely call BTP to meet the train at the next station.

I'd say 16. To many things to go wrong and then all the associated danger as mentioned by pps.

I think it depends on the trip. We do London - Edinburgh (Lner) quite regularly but it’s pretty rowdy with hen / stag parties and football. The last time, Lner wasn’t running because of a problem with overhead lines, we had to go from Kings X to Euston to get an avanti to Edinburgh. Inexplicably the train stopped and kicked everyone off in Preston. The only other trains went to Glasgow central. So from Glasgow central we had to go to Glasgow Queens street to get the train to Edinburgh. It took 11 hours and 3 trains all together instead of the 4 hours 20 mins direct it was supposed to take. Sorry about the long story, I have an 11 year old DD and I don’t think she would have been able to handle that. If trains were 100% reliable and safe I would consider it but not with the state of the trains in this country right now.

Thanks again for all the replies! You’ve given me perspectives to think about that I hadn’t considered. I think I’ll wait a few months. Today, he almost got hit by car crossing a road whilst glued to his phone. He won’t be traveling alone yet.