Train seats more wwyd

[trainfirsttimer]

I know I'm not BU as such, but in getting quite stressed and anxious over this
In my area when travelling on a train you don't pay until the child is 5. I plan on travelling with my children (under 5) but where do we all sit? I can't rely on a table not being reserved, there won't be room in those two together seats, I can't think of any other option
I'm genuinely getting stressed and down over this so please be kind

Having just checked the website it is 10 pound more expensive to add children even with a family railcard
But it's either that or run the risk of no seat isn't it?

How far are you travelling? Will you have luggage?

In my area when travelling on a train you don't pay until the child is 5

Or you pay for a seat for your child, whatever his/her age, to ensure you have a seat.

It all depends on which train line you are using and what time of day you are travelling. And how long your journey is.
I would pop into the ticket office in advance and ask them how busy the train is and whether you can book seats.

Even if the train is busy, the 4 of you would be able to squeeze into a double seat if you have one child on your lap - but it depends how long your journey is for you to be happy doing this

For a family and friends railcard you'll have to say one of your children is 6 because it is only valid when travelling with a child over 5. Plus it makes no difference to booking seats. Some routes don't allow seats to be booked regardless and those that do allow seats will let you book them without a railcard anyway.
Plus it's only worth it if you travel by train a lot.

You should be able to sit in a 2 seat with one on your lap in a worst case scenario. (Unless you're all huge )Or try and get 2 seats right opposite the aisle and put the older 2 in those.

I've travelled with 3 under 5 before and that's what we did if no tables available and it was fine. If a longer trip a table might become available part way through.

And yes, as others say, buy a Family Railcard. You'll recoup the £30 in one trip!

But if other people have booked & paid for their seats, you really can't expect them to move because you haven't.

I used to do Preston to Exeter with my then 2yo every weekend. I lost count of the times we ended up sat on the floor outside the toilets. If it's a long journey on a popular route you really might be better paying for tickets to guarantee seats, if you can afford it. It's just so stressful if you're not seated.

Ok next question please, is there anywhere to leave my pram on the train? If I'm at the table, I can't just leave it beside me can I? Its an inline double one, I could try and use a sling with ine of them and get a single for the train would that work?
I'm hoping to go on a plane next year with my children that'll be fun

No luggage, everything we need will be in pram. Or I'll be carrying it, journey is about 3/4 hours there and the same coming back so ideally seats would be the best
But now somebody is saying the card isn't valid? I'm so stressed

Pay for a seat or on your lap.

You'll need to collapse it and put it in the luggage rack if your trains have them )and they're not full). Failing that there's usually an area for wheelchair users where you might be able to get space for it. Definitely can't leave it next to you as you'll block the aisle (and it's probably wider than the aisle anyway).

I booked a seat for the train to York so dd could sit on my lap. She was almost 3 and we didn't realise it was when the races on. It was so packed we couldn't even get to our seat but thankfully a woman gave up her seat so we could both sit down with dd on my lap however not everyone's so nice. I would just try and book a family ticket

You'll need to collapse the buggy and put it in the luggage.

*in the luggage rack.

Don't put it in the wheelchair space. That space is reserved for those that need it and you will need to move it if a person needs it. That's not going to be easy with three kids.

Would never expect somebody to move just because I didn't book! Just wondered what the best way to go about it was, will look more into the family railcard thank you all

Me and my two under fives travel regularly by train on a two hour journey. If I had another I'd book an extra seat, but as it is, we always manage to find a table where only two of the four seats are reserved, so we spread out over two seats. It means elsewhere on the train someone can have my seat and the carriage I get on has a space behind the cafe bit for the stroller.
Had a bit of a bun fight last time, stroppy cow got on after me and demanded I fold my stroller because hers was this massive tank of a thing. Her dc was about 2, not even in the tank, running about. She also had no luggage unlike me. I shrugged, pointed out my youngest was sleeping peacefully and I'd got there first. Offered to watch her dc while she folded her tank. Copped some serious attitude from that one!

I NEED to stop using the word NEED so much. 😳

3-4 hours or 45 minutes?

Trains really aren't set up for prams to be left up. Your best bet would be an umbrella type stroller folded into the luggage rack (they do a double McLaren don't they?).

You then probably need a rucsac for your stuff you can carry it while pushing the pram as umbrella strollers have small baskets underneath.

I would buy tickets for at least some of the kids to get seats (even if the journey is only 45 minutes) and avoid travelling at peak times.

Just buy two full price train tickets and book two seats together and squeeze on all three of you?

Try and be as organised as you can. Take drinks and snacks with you. They are expensive on the train, plus you'll have to schlep yourself and the kids to the carriage with the shop to buy anything.

Virgin trains give free kids packs out with colouring books, a magazine etc.

Where are you travelling from/to?

How many seats could you manage with?

It is perfectly acceptable to buy a child ticket for an under-5 with a family railcard to avail yourself of the railcard discount, just as it would ordinarily be acceptable to buy a child's ticket for an under-5 so that they are entitled to a seat. You don't need to lie about anyone's age.

If you just buy one adult and one child ticket with your family railcard, it must be cheaper than buying an adult ticket without a discount, because 30% off full price + 60% off half price is less than 1 x full price. The only time this is not true is if 60% off half price is less than £1, as £1 is the minumum price.

A family railcard gives you access to some saver tickets which you may not be able to purchase at that time of day without it, although this is not as bargainous as it used to be, when you could buy a supersaver return for a peak train...

There are often offers on the purchase of a family railcard- google it before purchasing.

On a pendolino there is turning space in the carriage with a disabled seat - we always put our pushchair there, although obviously if someone needs to turn, you would need to move. You also need to be orepared to collapse your pushchair if necessary, although we rarely needed to during our pushchair years.

Just read the family railcard
"If the only child in the Family & Friends Railcard group is aged under five years, the Railcard holder must purchase a discounted ticket for that child in order for the Railcard holder(s) to qualify for the discount on their tickets." I'm confused by this? How do you get discounted tickets? So on top of the rail card money, and the tickets for travelling to begin with, I'll need an extra discounted ticket have I got that correct?

You'll have to collapse the buggy before you board the train - the aisles are only just wide enough to wheel a small suitcase down.

Travelling in and around scotland, the journey depending on where we go for example Aberdeen is 3 hours away but glasgow can be up to 4 hours