14 year old on long train ride.

[Tinkerbec]

Just as in the title really.

Sensible just turned 14 year old girl will be travelling on a train for six hours by herself from the South to the North. There are no changes and it is a direct train.

Would you let your 14 year old do this?

No. I've seen children of similar ages targeted on public transport.

seems fine to me

Absolutely fine as long as she's happy to do it. No need for half hourly check ups, that's a bit much.

Sounds fine to me. The question I always ask myself is 'could she cope if it went wrong' (delays whilst on train, cancellation at a random station, bus replacement etc.) if she's got her wits about her and could cope with those things, then I'd be fine sending her on the train alone.

She will be fine. Presumably you've taught her how to brush off any unwanted attention from men? Or as this is AIBU maybe I should say people, rather than being unfair on men.

Groups of men surrounding a young girl alone.
Boys alone being approached by older (sometimes very old) men and chatted up.

The fourteen year old is probably perfectly trustworthy.
Other people are not.
At fourteen, people are still children, still vulnerable.

She will be fine. Presumably you've taught her how to brush off any unwanted attention from men? Or as this is AIBU maybe I should say people, rather than being unfair on men.

DS does it twice a term. Maybe go through a few scenarios like... what would happen if train broke down, someone took you wallet etc.
DS is fine, he loves the independence.
Friend's child ran out phone battery playing games so maybe take a charger.
If you book early you could get a first class seat which is only slightly more for children, it feels a bit more secure and they get free drinks!
DS always keeps his phone with him, never in bag, and £10 note in his shoe for dire emergency.

At 15 I was travelling by train and plane through Europe, Greece, Scandinavia.
But at work some women were talking about not able to book their car for an MOT, or even getting petrol for their car....

I've just started letting my 12 and 13.5 year old from Newport to Paddington (3ish hours) I put them on the train and my mum meets them off of it. I think it's fine. I'd let the 13.5 yo go on her own but not ds.

I don't see the problem.

I have done with DD since she was 13, now is 15 and frequently travels by train.

The first time was to go on a riding holiday in Devon. I put her on the train, 6 hour journey. She texted me every station she passed, then she phoned the stables when she was one stop away and they picked her up. On the way back they dropped her at the station and I picked her up at the other end. She was fine.

She now will arrange her own tickets to go and see relatives in the school holidays. Always direct routes though.

We have discussed what to do if she gets attention. She always sits in busy carriages, near the door and will make herself known if she is in trouble. Never happened though.