To let my 15 ds get a train from Birmingham uni to Birmingham New Street then Euston Station on the train on his own?

[Owlbabie5]

Dp and Ds insisting he’ll be fine. I’m feeling twitchy. He has never been to Birmingham. We’d pick him up at Euston.

The new one is one of the only places I get lost regularly kolo. And it’s definitely not for lack of using public transport. There will be plenty of people to help though.

He'll be fine. Just keep in touch via phone. I did similar journeys independently at that age - I really enjoyed it!

But all of the London termini are... you know... termini. The clue is in the name.

And again, if you KNOW all the major stations in London are termini, then you know that ‘of course’ London is the last stop. It’s pretty arrogant to assume everyone knows this.

There is a rail link between the two the give away is one station is called University

Not all of the large London stations are 'End of the line'. St Pancras and London Bridge both have through trains. I wouldn't expect a non Londoner especially one from Devon to know that.
He will be fine. Euston is a horrible station though

@bookmum08 Not all of the large London stations are 'End of the line'. St Pancras and London Bridge both have through trains. I wouldn't expect a non Londoner especially one from Devon to know that

Indeed. Luckily we have an amazing thing called the internet where you can find out information, not to mention announcements on the train and signs on every train station platform. I can just about see that you might miss a request stop in mid-Wales if you'd dozed off. No one is going to miss arriving at Euston.

When I was a teenager I used to have to ring National Rail Enquiries and inevitably got someone in Scotland who had no idea whatsoever about London!

There is no aspect of this journey that isn't perfectly simple and that any 15-year-old with normal abilities shouldn't be able to manage without a second thought.

Well yes. That is what the OP is doing. She is 'on the Internet ' asking for advice and information.

That might also be something that most people would think a 15-year-old could manage themselves... route planning a journey. Even if your parent checks it afterwards.

Wow! So many posters born worldly wise! I was in Brum for the first time in 20 years recently. New Street is very fabulous now. But it does have the ‘lounges’ PP have referred to. Just be sure to keep a ticket to hand to pass through the barriers. barriers are manned too so your son could ask there for help if unsure. Also Brum has long platforms subdivided so be sure to stand on the right bit. Nothing that a 15 year old couldn’t navigate but every place has its idiosyncrasies. The other watch point might be to make sure he is on the train he has a ticket for if he is prebooked and there are restrictions.

He did all the research himself re the route planning. I decided to check on the internet re the realities and expectations for a 15 year old.

So he can route plan from Euston to Heathrow then?

Yep but I don’t want him doing it.

He does most of our route planning, can read maps better than most. Still don’t want him doing the underground alone at 8.30 alone for the first time after a long day. I’m the parent, my call.

And why is that?

Given that you have now asked this forum about 'realities and expectations for a 15-year-old', and have been given hundreds of responses from people saying that it is well, well within the capabilities of a typical child of his age?

Why did you ask if you weren't interested in the answer?

Still don’t want him doing the underground alone at 8.30 alone for the first time after a long day.

You do realise that 8.30 is early evening, right? So in the summer, not even dark? That the tube will be full of people coming home from work, it's not a midnight train full of drunks? (And even if it were...)

What do you actually imagine would happen that would be prevented by your husband escorting him?

I asked about the stops to Euston. Underground was never up for negotiation. Did listen which is why he’s doing it.

It’s too crowded and not happening on this occasion.

I understand that you don’t want him to do it. But the only reason I can think of is him not wanting to do it. If he does, why not?

Of course it's your call. But it is still irrational.

Anything really bad that could happen is (a) highly unlikely and (b) would happen whether your husband is there or not.

Too crowded? It won't be very busy at 8.30pm. And what do you think would happen if it were crowded anyway?

Make sure he has the trainline app on his phone which will tell him what platform he comes in at at bham new street, and which one he needs.
Have a look at station map for new street. It is big but lots of staff.

Because I’m not comfortable with him doing it on this occasion so he isn’t. There will be other occasions. He’ll be finding his way round the neighbourhood we’re staying in New York with his siblings or alone. He used public transport alone in Copenhagen. When I’ve sussed it out for myself with a view to him doing it alone he’ll do the underground in London. When I’m completely happy and sure.

• Still don’t want him doing the underground alone at 8.30 alone for the first time after a long day.

Neither would I. It's not exactly unusual for trains to be delayed - how late would you be happy with a 15yo unfamiliar with the underground to be travelling from Euston to Heathrow?

Because I’m not comfortable with him doing it on this occasion so he isn’t.

He gets no say in it, then?

He’ll be finding his way round the neighbourhood we’re staying in New York with his siblings or alone.

You're going to allow him freedom to roam around in NYC but not to make a single tube journey in London?

When I’ve sussed it out for myself with a view to him doing it alone he’ll do the underground in London.

What do you need to 'suss out'? It's an incredibly easy, safe, well signposted public transport system used by literally millions of people every year, many of whom are much younger than your son. What do you imagine you need to find out before you'll allow him to do it?

When I’m completely happy and sure.

Sure of what? What guarantees are you expecting?

He's 15, not 10.

He's 15 not 18.

Things can go wrong when travelling, doesn't everyone who's travelled at all know that? And if they go wrong and you end up at night somewhere that's not your home city, then it makes a difference if you're old enough to book into a hotel, for instance.

Such things may be uncommon (though delayed trains aren't) and if you can have an adult meet an inexperienced 15yo London it seems like a very sensible plan to me.

Errol, just had to google, apparently it opened in 1978. I can’t actually picture where it is, I was at Westbourne road in Edgbaston and used the buses and only New Street to get home at end of terms etc.