Teens travelling by train alone - what contingency planning is sensible?

[TheBlackCatWithTheWhiteSpot]

2 DD’s age 16 and 13 would like to go and stay with grandparents in the summer holidays.
Grandparents have recently moved to the coast, we have not visited yet.

DC want to travel alone by train. It would be one train to our nearest city, which they are used to getting independently. Then a long distance train, 2 hours or so. Then change at another quite big station to another local train, 3 or 5 stops depending on if it’s a fast or slow train, grandad will meet them at the station.

I’m sure they will manage fine if all the connections work. Will try and book trains with plenty of time for changing platforms, and make sure they have booked seats. Just trying to work out best contingency plan for if any trains are delayed/cancelled/ connections missed. Are there any apps that can help with this sort of thing? How do you prepare your teens for more complicated, unfamiliar journeys?

if you look at the train station they are changing trains at in google maps, there will often be plenty of photos, so you can figure out how the station looks like. That will help you if you have to hurry to catch the next train. Most stations have a layout somewhere (it's probably on the apps, too), that I tend to look at in advance.

You can ask them to search the jouney on google maps, too, so that they have a better understanding of the location and route, and the location of final destinations (as mentioned by pp) (unless they already know that, of course).

Fully charged phone/ charger with them other than that im sure they can suss any unfortunate delays themselves especially if they have the app
There's always someone around to help too.

Dc has been travelling an hour journey weekly via train since 13/14 . And always managed to get help if a cancelled train or rail replacement etc

As others have said. Plenty of snacks and a portable phone charger as back up.

All this above ^^

Plus send them with a minimal amount of luggage . Small cabin sized bags can be stored on the overhead racks and they can keep an eye on them at all times. Large bags have to go at the racks near the door and they might not be able to see them from their seat. Or if the train is cancelled and the next one is full, they might be standing in the aisle with their bags.

they might have to change trains or platforms at short notice.

You might need to be ruthless - teens can be terrible with over packing. They don’t need a full set of massive toiletries and make up each plus two of every hair styling appliance known to man .

They don’t need a full outfit for each day - the GPs no doubt have a washing machine and clothes drying facilities. I’m sure they have towels, shampoo etc as well.

Small bags will make any journey much easier.