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Original poster

Young Teenager Alone On Train

71 replies

SkySmiler · 09/07/2023 17:19

DS is 14 and pretty sensible, his dad lives in Liverpool and wants him to travel via train to visit him in the summer holidays - it's a 3 hour ride from us, it will be a daytime journey tho but just I'm just worried and feel he's too young.

OP posts:
MissHoollie · 09/07/2023 17:21

What are you worried about?
Presume you can see him onto the train and dad arranged to meet him.
Also nowadays with phones you can phone him too.

Kdub · 09/07/2023 17:21

Will he have to change train? I would let my 14 year old if its 1 train.

Christmas202 · 09/07/2023 17:22

My mum travelled alone abroad since age 5. He will be absolutely fine

Sunnydaysarentagiveneveninjuly · 09/07/2023 17:24

My ds 14 has ASD but actually loves travelling by train alone! Just a few stops atm but if he had somewhere further to go I would let him
#wontspendthedaycrappingmyselfworrying....

SertralineAndTherapy · 09/07/2023 17:24

When my DS took his first unaccompanied train journey to visit grandparents (age 13) he said that the only annoying thing was both parents and grandparents following his progress and texting him to remind him to get off at the right stop, while he was juggling his bags! (Guilty as charged.)

fortheloveofflowers · 09/07/2023 17:24

I travelled up from Brighton to Scotland when I was 14 on the coach.
He will be fine.

Westcoastwoman · 09/07/2023 17:29

There is no reason for this to be a problem if there are no changes..

However, if he has an issue then he needs to speak to the guard who will advise him. Tell him not to be shy about doing this.

As a side issue ; this is one reason why some train company members have staff striking because the train operating companies want to take guards off the trains.

StopStartStop · 09/07/2023 17:30

Teach him some self-defence - like, 'take the aisle seat, don't be pressured into a window seat because then you are trapped'.
Also tell him to beware of men who want to talk to him - I've seen teen boys chatted up by very old gay men, the boys didn't know what was going on (old bloke? He must be like a grandad!) but I did. Other risks are boys just a little older who want to take you somewhere, or want to talk you into joining a right-wing militia - all things I've observed on trains ... If he's sensible he'll be fine.

RubyMurry22 · 09/07/2023 17:31

I used to do a 60 mile round trip on the train to school aged 12 - I’m sure he would be fine.

Changingplace · 09/07/2023 17:31

I used to get the train into our nearest city at that age to go shopping, if it’s one train I don’t see the issue.

Fandabedodgy · 09/07/2023 17:33

I wouldn't be at all concerned about my 14 yo travelling. He regularly makes shorter journeys.

Clear instructions
Fully charged phone
Money or card for emergencies
A plan for what happens if he misses the right stop

caringcarer · 09/07/2023 17:33

I'd ask his Dad to travel down to collect him. It all depends on if his Dad is reliable or not. Would he definitely be waiting for his train?

BreadInCaptivity · 09/07/2023 18:01

DS did at a similar age.

We got him on the train and family (PIL) met him on the platform at the destination.

We reserved a seat.

Texted him 10 mins before due to arrive so he could get his things together.

If people on both sides of the journey are reliable and it's a direct connection then I think it's fine - actually good for promoting a bit of independence.

Needmorelego · 09/07/2023 18:05

14 should be fine but….
Does he regularly travel on trains?
Do he know how train travel works?
It’s very different if he has never travelled on a train or the last time he did was age 4 compared to if he does regular travel on trains several times a month.

cardboard33 · 09/07/2023 18:14

I'm early 30s now but regularly got the train all over the UK from the age of 13 alone to go to meetings of a youth forum that I was on. Sometimes I met up with others along the way, other times I didn't. One of the highlights was taking the train to Inverness (inc 3 changes of trains across 10 hours) when I was 15, which was so exciting as it was such a long trip. There were delays on other services and an "adult" tried (unsuccessfully) to kick me out of my seat but I stood my ground and there were mad dashes across stations to meet connecting trains. If he's happy to do it then I'd let him do it - particularly now you can track them on their phones to an inch of their life (if you want!) and he will have internet to look up delays/route changes etc.

For context, I grew up in a northern village, walked to the local schools and whilst I got the bus to the nearest towns etc as a teen, we mostly relied on cars. I wasn't a seasoned child commuter or anything. I love the fact that I now live in London and my son will be able to get public transport everywhere.

StillWantingADog · 09/07/2023 18:17

Yup if he used to travelling by train generally and will have access to phones

I got a train across the country by myself at that age, took around 5 hours. Before mobile phones.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 09/07/2023 18:18

Is he familiar with the journey?
Does he need to change trains?

DamaskRosie · 09/07/2023 18:19

Sounds fine, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

AuditAngel · 09/07/2023 18:19

DD2 travelled from Cornwall to London aged 12 in October with no changes, DS was 14 when he first did it, but that involved changes,

AgentProvocateur · 09/07/2023 18:25

Unless you’re going to do a massive drip feed, 14 year olds are more than capable of travelling by train.

A303 · 09/07/2023 18:26

Is he a passenger or driving it? Probably a bit young for driving I think.

notsurewherenotsurewhy · 09/07/2023 18:27

Planning to let my 11yo take a 2hr familiar train journey alone to visit grandparents later this month. I think he's going to be fine - he's sensible and generally hyper-alert and has had plenty of practice including making connections and watching me deal with unexpected service alterations etc, so whilst this is a direct train I'm not concerned he would be flummoxed by it suddenly terminating before his stop or anything.

Agree with pp re the importance of train guards to lone travellers (including children and women), and fully support the strikes.

WetBandits · 09/07/2023 18:28

A303 · 09/07/2023 18:26

Is he a passenger or driving it? Probably a bit young for driving I think.

😂😂😂😂

RotundRuby · 09/07/2023 18:28

14 should be fine to do this. Snacks, something to occupy him etc. My main concern would be him falling asleep and missing the stop/losing his bag etc.

Festoonedflurryfairy · 09/07/2023 18:29

I think he’ll be fine if you plan the route and he has a phone he can contact you and his dad on. For the very first time I’d go with him or have him go with a friend maybe?